My dear Kittiwake I am glad you are meditating a flight to us, but will you let it be on Monday the 14th this day week. I want the skies to clear up a little, as I hope you will allow time enough for a walk to see our daffodil copse of which we are rather proud, and which will gain by the week’s delay.

Do not be deceived into turning into the wrong house for ... continue reading

My dear Mrs Johns, I am very glad there is a prospect of our seeing Miss Keary. Would you or Kate be so kind as to let us know when she comes, and how long she is likely to be with you, and then we may fix a day for meeting or trying to meet. Next week and the week after too we have friends coming to us just so invalidish that I dare ... continue reading

My dear Mrs Johns,

We are much obliged for your kindness, and if things - weather included turn out well - I hope to bring the Cricket and her sister in time for a four o’clock tea with you on Monday. I am afraid we cannot do more, as after that it gets so late and cold for an open carriage. Our basket only holds three so that my mother - though thanking you for your ... continue reading

My dear Mrs Johns, Thank you so much for letting me [see] Mr Ruskin’s very characteristic opinion of the beautiful Griselda work. I have thought and talked it over with my mother, and certainly it is a complication, but would not the most satisfactory course be to ask some opinion of a person such as Richmond a thorough artist, and also a religious man, a gentleman, and father of daughters whether it would be his judgment ... continue reading

My dear Mrs Johns, Would you please be so kind as to send this note on to Miss Keary, as I do not know her direction. I have been reproaching myself with forgetting to thank you for lending us the Early Egyptian history which we have just finished and hope to return at the first opportunity. It is delightfully written and it is wonderful how she carries us through such an unpromising period by her imaginative ... continue reading

My dear Mrs Johns, I am afraid I have nothing very satisfactory to say my friend confirms my belief that there was an uncomfortable story about Ruskin and his wife - who you know is now Mrs Millais - and further adds that she does not think that real artists vote his opinion very high.

Neither is her view very favourable to a regular course of study for a young girl, she has known of an instance, ... continue reading

My dear Mrs Johns,

I have been waiting to write till I could see whether we could manage bringing Alice Coleridge up to Winton House, as we quite hoped to do at the beginning of her visit, but our having other friends with us all last week made it impossible to be contrived, and now she is going away on Thursday and I do not see my way for either tomorrow or next day, so I ... continue reading

My dear Mrs Johns, I suppose you are enjoying a Christmas rest, indeed I almost expect to hear that Mr Johns is spending his holiday on a visit to Katie. The business of my note is however to tell Katie or ask you to be so kind as to tell her, that we are having a great revolution in the state of goosedom. Some goslings having grown lazy and some outgrown it, there is to be ... continue reading

My dear Mrs Johns, Thank you for your kind invitation but I never know how to get out early enough for a one o’clock luncheon. Helen’s lessons last me till half past eleven, and if I do not work from that time till two, I can get nothing done, and as I am going from home the week after next, I am more hurried than is convenient, so that I cannot well spare the morning hours. ... continue reading

My dear Mrs Johns, I should be much obliged if you would propose me as a member of the Literary and Scientific Society. My sister in law would like her eldest girl to attend the classes if they take place, especially the Natural history ones. I suppose the details of management have yet to be settled and perhaps you will then let me know whether we had better subscribe not only for her, but also for ... continue reading

My dear Mrs Mercier I tried to get your questions answered by sending them to Miss Bramston, the Dean’s daughter, but unluckily female education at Winchester received a blow when Mr & Mrs Awdry went to Hurstpierpoint - and Mrs Johns, the only other lady who really cared, fell ill. The getting lecturers down needs some energy and there is no one to do it now.

I send you Miss Bramston’s note and that from [[person:1902]Mrs ... continue reading

My dear Mrs Johns, My musical friends are much pleased with Miss Mays’s first song, but would like if possible to review the three together. Would it be possible to trust me with the other two copies to send to him? I am so interrupted this afternoon that I must cut short my note

Yours sincerely C M Yonge

My dear Mrs Johns Thank you for your kind note. The second part of the little book is already half way printed - so I hope it will be ready the time the first is finished.

I believe I am going to London on Monday week, and shall be away for about a month, unless indeed the scarlatina in the parish spreads so as to prevent my going; and then I am afraid it would be equally ... continue reading

My dear Christabel I see no reason against a Barnacle if you have time to edit it. I am afraid I have not, but I think it would be a very pleasant renewal and very good for Goosedom. I shall be very glad of your last century story, with the proviso

Patience cousin and shuffle the cards. which would not be a bad proverb to write on.

Mrs Johns is well again I was at Winton ... continue reading

My dear Charlotte I had written one letter to you today when your other came by the second post and I just stopped it. I am writing to Mrs Johns to desire her to put these Carters into communication with you. I believe the Bishop of Victoria is not much of a Churchman. On the whole I think governesses are much more inclined to height than depth in the present day. [[person:2279]Mrs ... continue reading

My dear Christabel It is a fine story and I like it. I dare say you never read Rosanne, a very old book of the beginning of the century, where there is the same idea, a girl brought up by an infidel father with her mind a blank, and then struggling towards the light, and assimilating every shred. Her first prayer is very beautiful but I think your unprayed prayer is more ... continue reading

My dear Mrs Johns

So many thanks for your kindness in doing me that nice couvre pied. It was just what Miss Walter had been assuring me that the sofa specially wanted for the winter and it brightens us up beautifully I am sure it has not been weather for going about this winter or rather autumn

Yours sincerely C M Yonge

Dear Mrs Johns,

So many thanks for the penwipers. They are exceedingly pretty, and will last long to be a pleasant remembrance. You will indeed miss your boys. When are you looking for a house? It will be a change from your beautiful garden.

I am going from home in a few days, so I am afraid I shall not see you before your move.

With many thanks Yours sincerely C M Yonge

My dear Mrs Johns,

It shall not be my fault but my misfortune if I do not see the diversions of Winton House on Tuesday - I was going from home on Monday, but I have just put it off.

I wish Mr Johns’s lectures had been after noon ones. Then I could have come! The Skeleton seems waiting till publishing matters are less dead.

I hope this great evening is a sign that you are pretty ... continue reading

My dear Mrs Johns Thank you warmly for your kind note. I can see that both as daughter and as mother you have more than a common fellow feeling for the sorrow. In fact, I think the present loss is softened by the long weaning as it were which the slow dimming of the faculties led to, with quite as much affection and clings, but without the power of response - and latterly the weariness of ... continue reading