Marshgate House
Richmond
May 2nd 1902
My dear Ethel
Mother will probably have heard from Auntie Fanny by now that she is obliged to put off coming after all. I am afraid Mother will be disappointed, still I think Auntie will try & come a little later instead. I saw her on Wednesday at the sale, she said she was very sorry but she felt she must have her little grand child to look after while her father & mother are away, they were going to put her into rooms but Auntie would not allow that. Lily has gone with Frank to Fekley for a month so with Lily away & the baby to look after Auntie feels she cannot leave.
I propose coming home on Tuesday now & shall perhaps take the train you went by, but I can send a post-card later on about that.
The sale was a great success, nearly everything was sold & we made £11.2.6. Mary started hoping to make at least £5 so she was very pleased at the result. Baby’s woolly balls all sold 2 for 4d & one for 3d so her contribution brought in 11d. Fanny bought one of them for her children.
Auntie Pollie came back yesterday, it is nice to have her back again.
Mary & I & Agnes Styles rode over to Long Ditton yesterday to call on “the mice” viz Mr & Mrs Morris, “Mousie” is a most amusing little man. It was a lovely day for a ride, the park looked so pretty as we rode through.
Anna was up in town yesterday, she brought back half-a-dozen handkerchiefs for each of us ready embroidered with M. & E. Mary & E are going up to town presently, lunch there & do some shopping.
It was pouring early this morning but is bright now, otherwise we should have done our shopping in Richmond. I hope it will be fine tomorrow for the boys’ sports.
I have written a post-card to George to tell him to expect us.
I went in to Miss Kirton’s yesterday to see the bedstead & the carpeting that Mary thinks of sending down to Mother. It is a lovely large double wooden bedstead, without curtains & all the bedding will be sent with it. Auntie Pollie has promised to pay the carriage on everything that the others decide to give away.
Have you begun your work again? I hope you are feeling some benefit from your change here, I have been feeling decidedly better yesterday & today, a day or two before I was rather head-achy. I enjoyed myself very much at Holloway, it was lovely air up there & very windy all the time I was there.
Tell Father I shall be ready to do plenty of gardening when I get back. There will also be some little ducks I hope for me to help look after.
Auntie sends her love to Mother & thanks for her letter, she is sorry Auntie Fanny has to put off her visit. I have written Jack a post-card to make sure of his coming on Sunday.
With much to you all from
your loving sister
May E Sladden
