My dear Anne, You must not expect a very continuous letter from me as Mary Davys is here but I believe the best chance is to begin a long time beforehand to thank you for your charming long letter which we were delighted to see on coming back from school on Sunday. You said when you were here that we should sit in the drawing room gasping for a drop of water but last Sunday ... continue reading

My dear Anne

Thanks for your letter, and Mamma’s thanks for Mary’s. I am very glad indeed that you like Amy Herbert though I was sure you would enjoy it, her brother comes here today and I am sure he will be glad to hear of its being such an amusement to aunt Yonge. I am curious to know what you say about certain things I have heard objected to Some people especially ... continue reading

My dear Anne I was just begun to think that it was quite time to hear from you, when your letter arrived this morning. I see I have begun on the wrong side of my paper but it is the black cat’s fault as she was scrambling on my lap and disturbing my ideas. We have been out all the morning having set out to Twyford to look at some books which are to ... continue reading

My dear Anne It is enough to frighten one to see all one’s words taken so seriously, not that I did not really mean them, but perhaps I spoke more freely from not thinking you would attach so much weight to what so young and so flyaway a person might say. However it is quite right to feel that words have weight. I think I must begin from henceforth to assure you that you ... continue reading

My dear Anne How sorry I am to hear that Mary has a cold to pull her down just as she was getting better. I hope it will not last, but this is bad weather for shaking it off. It signifies rather more than my nose. I have been laughing much at the sensation that made two months after it had quite recovered. And after all it was not in consequence of ... continue reading

My dear Anne I must write a word or two before Church. I do not think I dared to expect better than this, and I do hope that at least the suffering is not what it was the day before. It is the Cross at least, and she has been bearing it so in patience and meekness all her days that one thinks of her as one made meet. I am glad that ... continue reading

My dear Anne I do not like that you should not find a note at least to greet you on your return home on Tuesday to tell you that we are thinking of you and feeling with you and yet I hardly dare to say the last. Julian will write to Uncle Yonge on Monday, he had fully meant to set out on that day to be with you, but he got a chill at ... continue reading