My dear Mary I am glad you have been keeping the wedding day with Charlotte. I am afraid that the hotel must spoil sitting out of doors except in front of the house. I am writing now in the garden while Blanche Webber, who is here to recover from the remains of the influenza is lying down in her own room. She had it at Easter and does not quite get over the remains, ... continue reading

Dear Mr Innes, Miss Gaye wants to have her M S back that she may know what to do with it.

I believe you know Miss Cheape’s address, if she is not at St Andrews, would you get a proof of Christian sent to her - I sent up two chapters, but I think I can only put one in.

Miss Tanner. I think you had better send to the care of

Mrs Sidney Lear the Close Salisbury

I ... continue reading

My dear Florence

I am glad you finished your journey prosperously, and I hope you have brought home a store of strength for the winter and for the trials.

How one sometimes wishes that one's people may never have another worry, and yet I suppose it is all right! I have just lost my most good and wise friend Marianne Dyson. For more than a year she had been in so utterly feeble and broken ... continue reading

My dear John

Thank you for your curious extract about names. I have one this morning from an Italian newspaper sent by Mrs Church, which beats everything. I translate it for your behalf- ‘The celebrated English Authoress of the Era di Ratcliffe is dead. Her name was Jong but in recognition of her talents, the Queen Victoria made her a Viscountess. She married the English ambassador at Constantinople but has continued ... continue reading

My dear Christabel

I suppose you are beginning daily life again. When in some ways it is so hard When it feels as if there were so few in the house, and yet when people talk it gets into a whirl and one does not care about it, and oh! the letters that seem as if they would never get themselves written. I suppose you stay where you are and in that way are much ... continue reading