My dear Marianne I have had a beautiful letter from Lady Martin, which I think you must see as well as Mrs. Moberly's equally beautiful comment on it. The palm and the white garment and the crystal sea seem to come like music back in answer to the 'Who knows' in the Lyra Innocentium! I have been living in it a great deal with the Wilsons who were at the Park, their hearts ... continue reading

My dear Mary, How well George Harris seems to be going on. It is a great relief even if it be only a present rally, and rest and summer may do much for him. I hear he is eating oysters and much enjoying them. I hear that the Mr Merton Smith who is coming to Plympton St Mary is an excellent person not a Wantage Curate, but a neighbour. I do not ... continue reading

My dear Mrs Elgie

I send the gathering here for the Altar Cloth. I hear this morning that Mr Harrison has not promised Crookham to anyone about whom the inhabitants have written, so it might be worth while to apply to him now, though I doubt it and I quite see all your reasons for wishing for a change. It is a great misfortune that Otterbourne is not an incumbency as it prevents the ... continue reading

My dear Mary

Thank you much for your letter. It is curious that Mary Woollcombe should have found the report going, but I think no one likes to speak to any of you of gossip concerning any of the family. As to the measure of the loss we do not fathom it yet, it is so mixed up with all sorts of things and people, as I suppose those things are. It is ... continue reading

My dear Mrs Elgie

Many thanks for this dear little note. I always did think your Girls most thoroughly good and conscientious, and I think their love of home is the best and happiest thing for the place and people. I wonder when those lawyers will finish off and let you take possession. I hope it is all right about Helena Dugay

your affectionate C M Yonge

Dear Sir

I would be glad to make use of your pages to explain to children and parents the system of Sunday school tickets, which some younger ones seem not to understand properly. The ticket is made the reward for a special lesson repeated by heart or a fixed number of answers in writing to questions because these are better tests of diligence than answering aloud which may depend only on quickness and readiness. But some ... continue reading

My dear Mr Warburton

I am glad you are coming to us, and hope you will come to luncheon. I trust we shall have all things in right order but to have so active and efficient a head suddenly laid aside is somewhat paralysing. I trust however that the corner will have been turned some days before Thursday.

I am afraid there are no daffodils and only scant primroses to attract your daughters

Yours sincerely C M ... continue reading

My dear Mr Warburton

Our good Vicar sank suddenly last night, and died this morning.

Could you be so kind as to change the examination day-? Any day after next week, but it is so likely the funeral may be on Thursday and we all feel so full of consternation and grief that we do not know how to be ready, though we would be any time after the 4th

Yours sincerely C M Yonge

My dear Christabel

I heard of both your troubles from Mary Lund, Miss Finlaison’s scholar whose brother is with Ernest, but I much doubted where you were. I dare say your coming home made a change that was good and refreshing to all. It was sad indeed to lose this second boy, after all the sorrow for the first I hope the little girl is strong.

The Squire has spread happily into three volumes. ... continue reading

My dear Miss Smith

It is very pleasant to hear from you again. I think I shall read your paper to our mothers next Friday as part of it. We only began last winter- our clergyman’s wife to do the executive and I to read to them Alas! this spring we have had the terrible and unexpected loss of our good Vicar. He was only 42, and in full work, when struck ... continue reading

My dear Florence-

It is a very good story, but I wish it had not been about an election, for I have another election story which I cannot throw over. It is by my poor old friend Fanny Wilbraham, who is so nearly blind that it is a wonder she has written it at all, and it is really very good. It is the conduct of a Cheshire peasant the other day, but she has put ... continue reading

My dear Miss Smith

I am sorry to say your story, even with a little abridging, comes to 63 pp, and as that is nearly a quarter of the Christmas no. I had to give it up with another which I liked almost as well, but was 53 pp, so I am afraid I must keep it waiting for the end of Paul and Virginia and put it into the regular M P. I like your ... continue reading