MS Mrs Clare Roels1
My dear Christabel
It is a fine story and I like it.2 I dare say you never read Rosanne, a very old book of the beginning of the century, where there is the same idea, a girl brought up by an infidel father with her mind a blank, and then struggling towards the light, and assimilating every shred. 3 Her first prayer is very beautiful but I think your unprayed prayer is more touching Indeed it is Rosanne’s intellect rather than her heart that struggles to the light. They might as well have had holidays this month for only Queen Bee and Speedwell have answered, and they are hardly worth cackling about, I don’t mean that they are not good. I will ask the Sept questions if it is my turn, but nearer the time I shall want a full list of the addresses.4 So far, you, Miss Keary, Frances Peard and Fanny Awdry stand foremost among the select, and Florence Wilford has revived enough to write a story, which I expect every day to see.5 The next I fully believe will be one of you five but I shall not trust it to my own judgement but wait a little to gather up peoples impressions
Katie Johns was here the other day. I suppose Mrs Johns is better, but I had a very depressed note from her this morning
your affectionate
C M Yonge