MS Miss Barbara Dennis/1
My dear Miss Bourne
Gertrude is very thankful for the snowdrops and much pleased. Yes, Frances is still about, and at this moment I have Florence Wilford here, she has been nearly killed with nursing the two old ladies1 at St Cross, and is here now collecting a little strength, I hope, I do not quite know for how long. I seem to have all visiting disorganized this year, and now some evening Wednesday and Friday services are beginning which it is a pity to miss, and yet I must go to Ottery for a few days before Easter, but I will try – if you will have me for anything so shabby as one night when I can see my way.
Poor George Heathcote is to be buried today – his wife’s devotion has been as beautiful as the way she is now bearing it. 2
I always imagined Marks Dream to be a kind of imitation of the French novels learnt with a clever woman’s intellect but not her heart and without knowing how bad it was, so that it was quite possible to outgrow it.3 You see Ada says Marion was much what she was made by those with her. I thought she was entirely without love for Fabian except sisterly
yours affectionately
C M Yonge