MS Mrs Clare Roels
My dear Christabel
Here are two themes for you quite true to start upon. Alice Moberly once found a diamond ring left behind on a wash hand stand in Switzerland. Invent the previous and subsequent history of that ring.
Also – At Dorchester Church in Oxfordshire there is the tomb of a Crusader, not lying peaceably on his back, but writhing round his spear.1 Something might be written to account for this – though unluckily it would have to be tragical Alas! we are all grown old and mercenary enough not to write for the pure pleasure alone, but with a purpose. I think however that the story might really come out fit for a magazine if it were done as letters or journals from the personages.2
This is the skeleton
There is a family of whom one has married a neapolitan baron, but who has been cast off by her kindred-
At a great family gathering two young cousins colleague much together, and are suspected of love by maiden aunts, the parents treating it quietly. The girl is found to have been disposing of her jewellery, and there is a great row she declining to say what she has done with it-
The youth goes abroad for a vacation tour, the fact being that their chivalry being roused for the discarded aunt, the girl has raised money to enable him to go and hunt her up-
A letter from his servant to say he has been caught and put to ransom by the banditti in the Abruzzi-
From himself out of the robber nest
From the baron who has found him out and bargained for him and wants the money forwarded –
From various members of the family, some afraid he will be shot before the ransom comes.- Others incline to suspect the baron of being in league with the robbers-
From the Aunt – after he has been released when he may have a fever –
From mother or father or someone come out to nurse him
General Reconciliation
I am sorry for you the loss of such an old servant is an irreparable thing
your affectionate
C M Yonge