MS Mrs Clare Roels1
My dear Christabel
Cherry is very satisfactory. The only thing I was not prepared for was Roland’s death, and Dick’s keeping the property I expect he married Nettie after all, though it is quite right not to say so. I like the contrast between Cherry’s feelings in the two illnesses very much, it is rather those of the rest of the family that I thought in danger of repetition. Miss Seyton I think good, and Alvar’s making up with Virginia I like I hope Macmillan will take it. I do not see why the pupil teacher story should not do as a Blue Bell.2 Mine is related by a spinster with a spine who was critic to a Society of nine girls (specified) There is to be an inundation in it and I shall marry up three at the end, so I hope it will have incidents enough. Our poor pupil teachers are in the final tug of preparation. They go to Salisbury the first Monday in July, and worked all through Whitsunweek enough to addle their brains3 The coming school master is reported to be an excellent Churchman. I hope he won’t be too good a one and scare the parish Remember me to my exGoslings4
your affectionate
C M Yonge
I never said how glad I am of the little daughter5 I hope indeed she will thrive