MS Mrs Clare Roels/88
My dear C C
Thank you for Crispin I was glad of him for we are feeding Alethea with light literature, she having broken down, with nothing the matter but a course of overwork after the influenza- first the children’s measles, then going to Holmwood to lodgings with the children, no nursery maid, and the lady nurse not looking after her, or doing nursery maid’s work and then a good deal to do at homecoming, mission and guests. So she is to take a great rest, and to go to Dorking alone when Frances goes home. She left Torquay yesterday for the Hallidays at Taunton. I do not think you should get pledged to Chwoman, but oh! if you could get hold of G L, or something of the sort. It was such a useless story in G L and very sad besides.
SPCK as far as I have read is improved. Wells Gardiner only ordered six dozen Doves in E. Nest so Macmillan concluded it was not worth his while 30 000 must be ordered to make a /6 ed answer! I don’t think he took into account the numbers who order things through their own bookseller or the stations. He would have printed it if 15 000 had been expected. I am afraid the local people only say ‘Out of print[‘] and don’t send the orders.
Tipper Moor was the name of the battle I could not remember!1 Would not Mungo be a good name He was St Kentigern but is better known as Mungo Park! and I don’t think the name has much been taken. My little Skye who died I meant to be Cormac, but Annie Cazenove having apparently never heard of the Lord of the Isles, read it Carmac and spoilt it- where it means a charioteer and Mungo means pleasant.
The Guardian never sends me Nat Soc books, but lots of SPCK. Vanity and Vexation is of the young lady order, and not at all bad, not a novellette2 I flatter myself that severity was wholesome
your affectionate
C M Yonge
You will like to see what Mrs Mitchell says.