MS Mrs Clare Roels1
My dear Christabel
Here is a beginning of Mrs Lyndhurst.2 I am afraid she is too much in the Aunt Dora style. I think we might do without Sylvia I don’t see anything for her to do. Denys seems to me quite enough, so I send nothing about her, though if needful I could put her in afterwards. Denys may have a calf love for Rachel which may make a man of him. I think it would be convenient for my mother in law to be an Admirals widow, and Lady Lyndhurst. Felicia will do, I think. I dont know if I shall get to see Miss Bramston, we don’t mend here. Ellen the maid has broken down and had a quinsy or rather a poisoned throat, and so a trained nurse has come and she is to go away for a fortnight and share the work when she comes back but this is sad to poor Gertrude, and I doubt being able to go out. After next week Mrs Woollcombe3 will come to let me go to Ottery, though the worsening goes on so that I don’t feel at all sure of going. Not that I am much there or of much use but one does not like being out of the way.
Marians beginning is spirited but if we do away with Sylvia she must alter a little
I send this to meet you at home-
your affectionate
C M Yonge
The end of the Loyal Mind is come. Lily confesses to Mrs Loudon. I don’t now how much you have seen. You had better send this to Miss Bramston at Winch any time before the 30th