MS West Devon Area Record Office Ac 1092/17
My dear Mary
I hope the sheep were expelled sufficiently not to return again, and that these lovely spring days are healing the wounds they left. I went to the Copse today and found the daffodils all but out, and there are many violets in the garden. The excitement of the week was that last Sunday morning Miss Finlaison fell down stairs with a large red glass lamp in her hand, which cut her chin and neck badly, and bruised her severely. She drove in at once to Winchester and had it sewn up, but the anxiety was that she was to go on the Thursday to the wedding of one of her old pupils in London. However the stitches were taken out on Wednesday, and she was able to go and saw a very pretty wedding at St Peter’s Eaton Square.1 Also she brought home a new young lady who brought six dormice, and her sister who was there before, has two. Eight dormice Fancy if the cats find them out, but I believe some are to be sent away! I can imagine your mud. It must be wading outside your own gates – I think I must send you the spare copy of the syllabus for the week day schools. Charles may like to see it. I like the questions for the infants
I am sorry for the loss of Jane Wills. Is she old Billy’s grandchild? How is Emma Knight. I do not think Gertrude is quite so well this week but there is no knowing, and she had her bed made two days ago which always knocks her up. My cook is gone home, her father having died quite an old man, but happily Bessie can cook so well that one would not know she was away, and she teaches in the Sunday School in the afternoon. We have not heard of George for five months, he is where letters are not sent but Alethea heard from Arthur in America. He and his wife, having no children of their own, have adopted a baby and called her Violet Gwendolen. They seem to be very fond of her. There is a famous report of our Religious examinations coming in the magazine, but the schoolmasters wife, who taught the younger boys so well, has got out of health, (partly) from bicycling hurting her heart, and has to give up. Henry and I sent off four answers to advertisements today!
Frances Collins in her training college was to teach a class on Thursday before the Archbishops Inspection. She chose Naaman as her subject. I hope to hear tomorrow how she got on
your affectionate
C M Yonge
This is the spare copy, as Henry and I met with them in our hands