MS Plymouth and West Devon Area Record Office Ac 1092/34

My dear Charlotte,
I found that when Helen had read the history of England she wanted something to give her a notion of the general keeping of the whole world so I set her on in the ancient Landmarks which she likes – to my surprise much better than English history. (She had begun with Little Arthur). But I thought her English history was too much in the rear so I made her read the Kings of England – after which she wished so much to go back to her dear Greek that I let her go to the Landmarks of ancient History again, and she went on to the Middle Ages after them – keeping England up by saying dates. I think I shall let her go on to the end with the Modern, and then take to Miss Sewell’s Greece and Rome. I think the Landmarks answer better to come before these two, because they bring ancient history into its connection with the Jewish. Arthur went back to school yesterday in very good spirits, and Helen’s lessons must begin in earnest now, among all the holidays she has grown very unsettled. Poor little Alethea was sent to stay at Southsea for a change, but it did not agree with her, and after fainting away twice she had to be fetched home in haste, looking very ill, but seeming full of spirit and life. She is such a little mite compared with all the others who are very tall and large. Maurice is really very little shorter than she is. Georgie has just produced a tooth without any trouble about it, he is the best baby they have had at all.

Captain Woollcombe and Mary seem to have quite made up their minds.¹ We are all a good deal surprised as there had been a belief of something in some other quarter, and the affair had only become visibly imminent when Mary and Gertrude were at Southsea together. Mary is one of the kindest and most unselfish of people and very handy and full of contrivance, so I daresay she will manage very well, but I don’t think they will have very much to live on. She will be a great loss to poor Gertrude on whom she has waited in the kindest and most assiduous manner ever since her illness began eight years ago. They want her to live with them, but she and all think it had better not be at first, and indeed her father’s will requires her to live with her guardian till 25, and that will not be for three years. How is Charlie getting on in his travels. I have heard no one mention him since his start. Here is poor Harriet laid up with an attack of shingles. I had no notion what a painful disorder it is. She was so very bad on Saturday and Sunday before it declared itself that I thought she was going to have some dreadful illness, and now she cannot put on her clothes, and is very miserable with restlessness and want of sleep.

What a strange illness this has been of uncle Yonge’s I do not think I ever heard of anything quite like it, and I suppose I do not realise it. Mary always writes so cheerfully, indeed I imagine she holds out by the cheerfulness of only looking to the day. I always know more about it when I hear from you or Duke. I beg your pardon for that blotty page, a wet letter fell down on it and destroyed itself. I think this is the order I would read in

Kings of England

Landmarks of Ancient Hist

New School History of England

Miss Sewell’s Greece

Miss Sewell’s Rome

Landmarks Middle Ages

Modern²

By which time one would be old enough for grown up histories I don’t think the engagement is any secret now Mary has been telling everyone here.

your affectionate cousin
C M Yonge