12 Charleville Circus
Sydenham
Sep 18 1914
My dear Father
I am returning Marian’s letter to you. I was so very sorry to hear this bad news of Aunt Lizzie; so utterly unexpected too. Poor Marian, she is evidently quite heartbroken about it and Aunt Edith will feel it terribly. I wonder if Ethel will be going down there; Marian must have her hands full although of course they have a nurse! Juliet’s card to me was delayed so I did not get it in time to meet her today. However we shall see her tomorrow I hope as I have asked her to come to see George. He hopes to get off for one night and to be here about 24 hours from Saturday to Sunday evening. It will be so nice to see him; I am afraid Mother will feel rather jealous of us but at least we will send her much news of him. He asks to be provided with the best hot bath available and shall have to make a festive dinner of it and “kill the fatted calf”. I will write Mother the longest letter I can find time for and give her all the little bits of news afterwards. I had a letter from Arthur yesterday; also from Mary the previous day. Evidently he is actually in or near Nantes; Mary says he is camping in the grandstand of a sports club. He says he has had some letters and papers lately but does not say on what date. His letter was written on the 11th. He says they are living “in reasonable comfort” and not too busy. Mary tells me he and another man are practically in sole charge of the medical side of the hospital. He finds it difficult to write an account of leaving out so much. I believe he really is almost over-cautious to judge from the letters from men at the front published in the papers.
We are still unable to do proper work, but the painters promise to get out this week, some should begin properly on Monday. Not being able to teach today, some of us went off to Hyde Park and saw the Public Schools Battalion parade and march off to Victoria where we saw them entrain for Epsom. A good lot of men of very various ages. I will enclose a line to Mela.
Much love to all
Kathleen
