Seward House
Badsey
June 24th/16
My dear Betty
You will like to hear that we had letters from Boo yesterday afternoon – one for Father and one for Mela. He got the news May 24th, Mother’s last letter to him reached him that day, with Father’s and Mela’s telling of her death. He opened Mother’s first and was disturbed at the shakiness of the writing and of course she told him she was ill again. Then he opened Father’s which told him. He describes Father’s as a beautiful account which have him much comfort after he had had time to recover from the first shock. Mrs Harbottle seems to have been very nice and kind. It is such a good thing he knew at least one woman there who could be a friend to him. His letter to Father is very nice indeed. Father wrote out most of it in a letter to Kath, which he has asked her to send on to you. He will let you see the letter itself when you come home. I don’t think he feels he can spare it to send it round. Mela also showed us her letter; such a beautiful one, she has also written out part of it and sent it to Kath and she is to send it to you. Boo was going to Simla early in June I think, so he would be there now.
I hope your cold is better. We were glad to get your postcard yesterday. Ada has a heavy cold now – caught from you, I expect. Mela is being treated by Dr Leslie and I hope she will soon be really better. It is miserable for her to feel so poorly all the time. He thinks her liver is wrong. I heard from George a day or two ago, I forget whether it was before you left, he hopes with luck to get leave in about a month’s time. He is pleased that Rosie has got fresh work, though sorry she won’t get a holiday.
I have a letter from Dolly this morning, they were feeling anxious about Aunt Bessie who hadn’t been well just then (May 3rd), she is nearly 75 and her strength is failing and they dread the winter for her. The roses are looking lovely. Father and Ethel have just gone out to cut some for Father to take to someone in Evesham who sells them for the hospital, this being Alexandra Day.
I must go now and get on with the daily round.
Very much love from
May
