Muritai
Whit Sunday
My dear Cyril
I am very delighted to hear that you and Mela have come to such a very satisfactory conclusion and wish you both the best of joy and happiness. I am so glad I know Mela, now I shall be able to imagine you both, later on, settled down in a home of your own, even though I am the other side of the world, and what a jolly time you two will have.
I wasn’t at all surprised at the news after being at Badsey at Xmas time and at the dance. After Mela was here about a month ago, Aunt Lottie said, “Kathleen is so fond of Mela”, and I couldn’t help saying, “I think it’s Cyril that’s so fond of her,” whereat the Aunt was much amazed, though I couldn’t see why she should have been; she is very pleased about it.
It was nice of Kathleen to write and tell me about, please thank her for her letter, I must write to her later on, I have got such a pile to write now that I am back again, we only came home yesterday, 10th. I found a letter from Aunt Lizzie Fellows awaiting me asking me to go there for Whitsuntide, but of course I couldn’t because it was Saturday afternoon then. I hope May will be pleased with the purchases for the bazaar, I must pack the things up tomorrow and send them off. I hope Aunt Eugénie will soon get strong again, that horrid influenza seems to have put her back so much, I am so sorry. She will be pleased to have Kathleen at home for a few days.
Uncle Julius says Kathleen and Jack are making all sorts of plans for Norway. Shan’t I have seen a lot by the time I reach NZ once more, the way the time is just flying now, only 5 months more, Aunt Lizzie and I leave by the Orient liner Orama, on Oct 10th, and “Knickles”, my “Ruapehu” fellow passenger is to occupy the 3rd berth in our cabin, from Colombo, so that will be very jolly.
We have had a most lovely time in Milan, Venice and the Italian Lakes, Venice is just wonderful, St Mark’s, the Doges’ Palace are beyond description, and the picture galleries and the gay square and the fascinating shops all round, I very soon became bankrupt and borrowed from Miss Tyson and Aunt Lottie!
Ford is away for her holiday, I am looking forward to telling her the news, she is always so interested in “Mr Cyril” and she was very much taken with Mela one day when she came and we were all out.
Well I must finish this epistle with all good wishes for present and future happiness (sounds rather like a Xmas card, doesn’t it?)
From your affectionate cousin
Dolly Sladden
