“Orontes”, Indian Ocean
Oct 29th /05
My dear Ethel
It has just struck me I ought to write your birthday letter and post it from Colombo for you to get it any where near the time. Many happy returns of the day to you. Little Bunny shall have a p.c. from Colombo if I can find time to send one off and you can tell her I will write her another letter later on.
We are not counting on seeing Mr Edward Haynes tomorrow as I believe he lives some distance from Colombo but I shall look out for him in case he should come, or there might be a line from him if so we ought to get it before landing. I believe we arrive early in the morning.
This will not be a long letter as I have written to Mother as well but I think I can find you a few scraps of news. Mr Holmes the clergyman and Miss McPellar , Frances’ friend, seem to be getting more and more friendly and I think no-one would be greatly surprised if that affair came to something. I have occasionally had suspicions about Mr Tucker and Miss Laird only I don’t really think they have any foundation, they are very good friends though and he told me last night how hard he would find it to say good-bye. Frankie Leach is such a dear little fellow, you would like him I am sure, he was one of triplets and his Mother’s only child for the others died, he is frightfully delicate and his little sticks of arms and legs, his Mother is taking him to Sydney as the doctor’s gave no hope of his living in England. He is quite devoted to me since his Mother has been busy nursing Miss Laird. Poor girl it was her birthday yesterday. She was 28 a nice way of spending it collapsing as she did! She had bad news of her Mother’s health at Port Said and I am so hoping she won’t have worse news tomorrow. Good news would I daresay help a good deal towards pulling her round.
I hope Church and parish matters are going well at home. We have been very well off for services, there is early service every Sunday and generally on Saint’s days – the usual Sunday morning service, short and with no sermon, a sort of Russian service in the 3rd class in the afternoon and a Presbyterian or Wesleyan in the 2nd saloon in the evening. Every morning too there is Bible reading and short prayers at 10 o’clock, there are generally quite a number there. I notice that there a far greater proportion of 2nd class people at the services than of 1st or 3rd.
I really think I must have a little Sunday afternoon read now, it is remarkable how little time I find for reading, time slips away and one seems to get next to nothing done. If a p.c. shouldn’t arrive for Judy when this letter does you must give her my best wishes and tell her one will come later.
Much love from your loving sister
May E Sladden
Am sending part of diary in Mother’s envelope, it would all go together for a penny. Today’s diary must follow later.
