BLACKWELL FAMILY Kitty Barry Mattley, Lina Sydenham New Year's Eve 1875. My dear Kitty I cannot let my small New Year's remembrance go to you, without a line to thank you for your kind little note and the pretty card that accompanied it. We have been keeping rather a quiet Xmas this year; - the dearMother has been very poorly with a bad cold, which has pulled her down a good deal. Of course we are looking forward to Tuesday! Florence, Margaret, and I are going to Cousin Edward's; the drive would be rather too tiring for Lessie, and Nettie has been quite gay at the Blounts.' Among so many girls of course we take turns in going out! I hope your festivities have been all successful! I shall like to hear how they went off. Please excuse brevity as I haven't much time to spare this morning. With all loving wishes for the New Year I remain Always yr affect- Lina I hope you have not read 'Queen Mary'!The Rectory Welsh Bicknor Ross. Oct 25 My dear old Kitty, It seemed quite like old times to see your hand writing again: I never got any letter from you at Rolle or since and I have been wondering where you might be and why you took no notice of my letter from Zermatt for I knew you had it as Marian Butler answered the one I sent through you. I didn't care for being at Rolle at all: it was so monotonous, every day so full of french grain, that I got quite sick of the "règles" I had to write: however I d'ont think I ought to grumble for I believe on the whole it did me good: it roused me up well and, though I felt very tired at times, I don't think it hurt me.You haven't an idea how perfectly charmed I was to come back to dear old England: I left Rolle on the 16th Thursday & reached Newhaven about 6.30 on Friday a journey of about 26 hours from Lausanne: I didn't at all object to travelling alone. I left Brighton again on Monday for this delightful spot. Rolle isn't anything like so beautiful as this: of course the Chillon & river end of the lake are very beautiful but Rolle is quite tame, nothing striking about it, and instead of falling flat, I think this place more lovely than ever- I don't know what I shall do when I have to go! Then the Aldrichs are so extremely kind and nice to me that I simply have nothing to wish for except that I were worthy of their kindness! It was such fun, this afternoon I made an apple tart for dinner! Turford the cook has been away for her holiday & most days they have some one in to do the cooking, but today she is coming home & it wasn't worth while having any one so Mrs. AB. asked me (knowing I used to make tarts at home) if I would make this tart & show Annie at the same time instead of her other lessons; we had some of our productions up at tea to see what they were like & I'm glad to say it turned out very nice- but the tart is to come- I shall be most anxious to hear what Mr. Aldrich's opinion is: supposing he doesn't think it good!You will be surprised to hear that Margaret is at Goodrich Vicarage the next parish to this and within walking distance of me; she only came on the 14th inst. but I am afraid she wont like it much they don't seem nearly such nice people as mine and she has to spend her evenings alone in the school room which is not a very comfortable room either so I'm afraid it won't answer: she came here on Saturday & we took her for a row: I suppose you don't know of anyone wanting a governess amongst your numerous acquaintance, I should be so glad if she could get with really kind genial people poor child, it seems so hard for after her dull time at Hanley Castle to get with a family of the same stamp. I don't suppose she will stay over three months and it is so difficult now-a-days to get any thing nice. Nettie is bent on trying High School teaching if they will give her a trial - I hope she will be successful: she has been staying some time at Winchester with the Sawers' but is looking out for something to do. Mama & my elder sisters are still at Brighton, but not at the same address so it is as well you had mislaid it: they talk of Kensington in December, so perhaps I shall spend my holidays there. My cousin Nellie who was here before me, is coming to spend a week or ten days here next Monday. I wonder she could ever have left such nice people: she is leaving the people she went to from here on account of one of her pupils having fits! - How is Miss Alice - won't you be charmed to see her again! I am afraid I envy her learning - how I should have liked to have gone to Girton! I often wonder what the future will be I should so like be independent - I'm sure I could never bear to go to any otherfamily after this: what's your advice on the subject: I should so like to be able to help make a home for the others by and by and [[?]] I don't know how I could. Have you heard anything of the Vesalius' girls - I hope they are getting on all right. You will write again before you leave for Nice, won't you & tell me all about everything. Our house is let until March & then we have it for another [lise] months on our hands. Mr AB is teaching Heesie & Agnis datin now three times a week & they both seem to like it- lucky girls, I think they are! Addio cara mia Much love from Yours always affect, LeisaSouth Corner Rugby 16.2. '85 Hope you'll enjoy Tenby! My dear Kitty, It seems quite strange to be writing to you again. I had about given up thinking of ever hearing from you again, as you never answered (till now) my last, which I wrote a very long time back! - By above address you will see I am neither at [*privately. She is much stronger I am glad to say. Poor Maggie is never happy away [*And yet she doesn't like B. I wish she would take up other work than teaching, as she has never liked it much. She is at home now. I hope you wont let quite such a long*] Harrow, nor at Brighton, my present whereabouts being Rugby. We gave up renting the Cottage at Lady Day. But not before Nettie had suffered through living there. She was quite ill all the beginning of the year & was away most of the term at Manchester , staying with a Mrs Darbyshire, sister of Mr Cobb. It affected her head chiefly - She had most dreadful headaches, and only narrowly escaped a bad illness Dr Ralfe said. she living in the Cobbs' house now & is gradually getting strong again. But she is still looking very thin, & hasn't got all her old energy back yet. She came to stay with me from Sat: to Mon: on the 4th inst. She very much enjoyed seeing Rugby. I like the place very well on the whole, but I wish it were within reach of town![* period elapse 'ere you write me again! Affectly Yours E. F. Matthew*] Have you ever been here? Perhaps you may like to hear what I'm doing here. I got this post, which is a very good one, through Miss Brough, Secretary of the Teachers' Guild, or rather of the Registry office of that book. I had just joined the Guild, so had only to pay 1% on getting the engagement. Mr Whitelaw is a house-master, & has about 40 or 50 boys in the house. Both he and Mrs W. are extremely kind & nice. I have rooms quite near, so am quite as independent as at the Cott: I make my sitting room pretty with flowers which Mrs W. always provides me with, and my piano is coming down this week, so it will then be quite home- like. I dine "in hall" at the Ws' every day, so have no dinners to bother about. My landlady is very nice & clean & keeps everything very nice. Altogether I am quite satisfied with my quarters. I think my pupils will be interesting, but they had a teacher who couldn't keep them in order at all for 6 months, so you can guess at the result! I have had rather a hard time on the whole. The eldest of the 3 girls who is 15 has a very difficult temper to deal with, while other two of 10 and 8 are shy, & much inclined to follow their own sweet wills. However I hope things will go better next term. I go home on the 29th and much look forward to my hols. No, we are none of us married, nor engaged! Bad taste on the part of the men, as far as mysisters are concerned! Mother is moving at Michaelmas, but until that date our B. Address is 26 Upper Rock Gardens. I shall spend most of my hols at B. & then go to join Nettie at Dover for a week or 10 days probably. And I am to go to Harrow too before coming back here. If you know anyone who wants photos coloured, think of Flo. People are always pleased with her work, and she is glad to enlarge her connection [*Thanks for the card and your good wishes.*] 3 Dorset Gardens Brighton Jan: 18th '82 My dear Kitty, I trust you are safely ensconced by your 'ane fireside' again, after your travels - I'm glad you are back before this cold set in. Aren't you glad to be back in England?- No country like it, Kitty! If you would care to come and dont mind the cold, we should be very pleased to see you here for a day or two next week (the beginning thereof,for I expect to have to return somewhere towards the end.) if you wouldn't object to sharing my bed, for there isn't another room to offer you! I should think the Dr is so pleased to have you back that she will hardly spare you away yet!- Maggie goes back to Tunbridge Wells tomorrow - Poor Adelaide seems to find the winds rather cold at Cannes: she is a devoted admirer of your Doctor. How very sad it is for her to be so disabled- one ought indeed to be awfully thankful for good health, it is one of the great blessings of life. Poor Flo's neck troubles her still- I think this dull cold weather affects her a good deal. and so her neck gets worse. Nettie left us last week, she was not looking well - she worked too hard last term, and has suffered dreadfully with headache: however she is better than she was.[E.F. Matthey] How does Flo's sister like England? I suppose this is her first acquaintance with the Mother Country. If you would prefer to come Saturday to Monday (supposing you can come) it will be just the same to us, as Maggie goes tomorrow. You ought to come and see how Lil is getting on with her China-painting etc. With love, in which Mother & my sisters unite. I am affectly yours Emmeline F. Matthey.Peak Hill Sydenham April 7th My dearest Kitty, Thanks for your welcome letter received last week; as if any letter from you could be un-welcome Kitty! There are no letters I so much look forward to receiving as yours. [*I ought to be learning German Grammar now, but I feel in too restless a mood to take it in so thought I'd take the opportunity of writing to you; a more congenial occupation.*] [*Lina Matthey*] [*76*]I shall be so delighted to see you again Carissima; I shall quite count the days to your coming. I shant allow myself to expect you before the 3rd or 4th of May at the earliest and then if you do happen to come before it will be all the more delightful. My holidays began on Monday and I go back to the College on the 2nd prox.; I had hoped they would begin later & go on longer, but however it makes no great difference as I am only there four afternoons in the week. Nettie came home yesterday, & Mama, Lil, & she go to Brighton tomorrow, so I shallhave to be house-keeper in their absence. We much wished to persuade dear Papa to go to the sea with the others, but he declares he would only get another cold & prefers staying at home; he has been so very unwell this winter on and off; he has had such a nasty cough which appears sometimes to be asthmatic though not entirely; he seemed quite ill last Sunday & looked so too, but I thankful to say he seems better again now poor fellow. If I knew of any nice lodgings in Sydenham I should be very glad to tell you of them but I dont know of any which would suit you. Can I make any inquiries for you in Norwood? I would with pleasure. With heaps of love dear Kitty & hoping so soon to see you. Always your loving Lina Matthey.LONDON Miss Katherine Barry Care Miss M. Blackwell I des Pochettes France Nice Alpes Maritivies Peak Hill Sydenham Jan: 3rd 76 My dearest Kitty It is rather late in the day to be wishing you a happy New Year - but is is hardly my fault that I have not done so before as I did not care to write a third time without getting any answer.I was very glad to learn from your letter that you are well & safe for I was certainly beginning to wonder what prevented your writing. Since reading your epistle I must acknowledge that to say the least you have ample excuse for any delay. You must be surrounded by a great deal of beauty & loveliness - your description is very graphic; I can quite imagine "our rocks," your favorite sitting place. I wish you could send us a little of your sunshine - here for weeks we have had a continual downpour of rain, rain; only a rare glimpse of the sun now & then. Tempests, floods & hurricanes seem to be the order of the day."The first day of the year 1877 will long be memorable for a gale surpassing in its violence any tempest that has visited our coasts since the memorable hurricane of 1703 in which old Eddystone Lighthouse was washed away." Such was New Year's day 1877 here in England. A little bright frosty weather would be an agreable change; and I should think we are sure to have some soon - surely the rain will depart before long. We are all at home now, and in addition to ourselves we have a cousin (Willie Oates) staying here - he has to sleep at a house close by as of course we have no room for him. We have acted a good many charades and had a great deal of fun over them. My sister Lissie is thinking of going away from home for a timeif she can hear of any nice people who want [ either a companion or a governess- she can only undertake light duties as she is not strong- I can't bear the idea of her going but I can see that (as she herself says) she would be all the better for a change if it was only for a time and so it's not right to mind it- she sends her love to you & says that if you should know of any one abroad wanting an individual in either of the two capacities mentioned you would kindly tell her of it - she very much wants to go abroad. I wished to have posted the book I am sending you so that you might get it New Years Day; but as I hadn't your address I couldn't- so please excuse its coming rather late.I hope you like that style of poetry - I think it seems very like the Lyra Anglicana - I was afraid you might have that so I chose one newer. With much love & all good wishes for the year just begun Believe me Always very sincerely yours Emmeline F. Matthey Love from Mama & Lissie ____________________________________________________________________________________________ [E. Matthey] Peak Hill Sydenham May 21. '78 My dear Kitty, It was rather too bad of you to go off without "saying good-bye"; but I suppose, considering the fact that had it not been such extremely unfavorable weather on Thursday, you would have come I must forgive you!I was very much disappointed at not seeing you on Thursday and felt in a state of depression for the rest of the evening. I hope you will have nice weather while staying in Southampton & that you will have a pleasant visit, also that you will get an opportunity of having your wish to go over the "Victory" fulfilled. I didn't at all realize you were leaving Norwood so soon although I thought from Dr Blackwell's note you would not be there much longer, accordingly Margaret and I walked up to Norwood on Friday afternoon only to find "No 44" deserted! I should think you will find hunting about Devon for a "desirable lodging" very pleasant work - have you ever been at Lyme Regis before?Please excsue this short note as I have so little time for writing; we shall be very glad now when the Exam is over and still more so when we know the results (that is if it be a good one!!) With much love, in which all unite I am ever Very affectly Yours Lina Matthey Please dont let a very long time elapse before i hear from you again! PASSENGER ELEVATOR TARIFF CARD THE BEDFORD HOTEL 83 PRINCES STREET EDINBURGH G. E. BISHOP ProprietorBEDFORD HOTEL, EDINBURGH. TARIFF OF CHARGES. IN COFFEE ROOM. Breakfasts. A la Table d'Hote, at fixed hours ... 2/6 Luncheons. Basin of Soup ... 1/ Cold Meat, Vegetables, and Cheese ... 2/ Chops or Steak, Vegetables, and Cheese ... 2/6 Dinners. A la Table d'Hote, at fixed hours ... 4/ Do. do. Children ... 2/6 Dinners a la Carte ... from 3/ Dinners in Private Rooms to order. Teas and Suppers. Cup of Tea or Coffee ... /6 Tea, Coffee, or Chocolate, with Bread and Butter, Toast and Preserves ... 1/6 Do., with Eggs ... 2/ Do, with Cold Meat or Fish ... 2/6 Do., with Hot Meat ... 2/6 Suppers a la Carte to order. Visitors' Servants' Board in Steward's Room ... per day ... 5/ Children's Board ... per day ... 5/ Fires in Sitting Rooms ... per day ... 2/ Do. in Bedroom, 1/6 ... Evening ... -/9 Lights in Private Apartments ... 1/ Visitors' Board, including Breakfast, Luncheon, Dinner, a la Table d'Hote, Bed and Attendance, £ per week, or per day. BEDFORD HOTEL, EDINBURGH. TARIFF OF CHARGES. APARTMENTS. First Floor. Coffee and Smoking Room. Second Floor. Drawing Room, facing the Castle and Princes Street Gardens, Bedrooms en Suite. Third Floor. Sitting and Bedrooms en suite, facing the Castle and Gardens. Sitting Rooms ... from 6/ per day Bedrooms, Double, with Attendance ... 6/6 and 7/ per day Do. Single do. ... 4/ per day Fourth Floor. Single Rooms, facing the Castle, etc. ... 5/ per day Bedrooms, Double ... 6/6 and 7/ per day Do. Single ... 4/ per day BATHS. Hot, Cold and Shower, 1/. Sponge and Hip Baths in Bedrooms, 6d. For Meals in Bedrooms and extra charge will be made. A Tariff of Choice Wines, Spirits, and Liqueurs, selected with much care, as per carte. Visitors are respectfully requested to give their names upon arrival.[ picture ]The Rectory Welsh Bicknor March 12 80 My dear Kitty, The children have been allowed to leave off lessons half an hour earlier than usual today, it being such splendid weather - I think it's just perfection, so I am spending the time in writing to you as Easter need not necessarily be waited for to send you a letter - I thought I said I should'nt write many letters in the term not none at all. [*had the pleasure of seeing Mrs. S. again I like her very much. I'm afraid I'm an altogether bad correspondant, but I don't care about writing letters after lessons are over Good bye Always affectly yours Lina.*]Do you know i went to Cheltenham last Saturday leaving here by the 12.50 am reaching C. at 3 00 (having half an hour to wait at Gloucester); it was a very pleasant little visit but I had to leave early on Monday as I did not want the children to miss any lessons on my account - my train was at 6.40 a.m. and I arrived at the house just as the prayer bell rang so I was in good time for breakfast. The violets, primroses wood=anemones etc are lovely I enclose a few: I sent L. a box full of flowers yesterday and they say they were quite fresh. Is it not a good thing little Meg is so happy at Chilton - I am thinking of spending my summer holydays there, i.e. if Mlle Epple will give me two or three hours tuition in Fr. & Ger. a week as I should feel bound to study hard all the time, going forbusiness not pleasure, albeit of course it would be a pleasure to see the mountains and the lake through my own eyes & not through anothers! Nettie comes home the end of July - my Easter holidays will begin on Ap. 9 not at Easter and I shall of course (D.V.) spend the three weeks at Cheltenham: I do not quite know where Mama will go after that. Wasn't it curious? The Strathys who were at C.H. last Sept. just happened to be at Chelt. when I went over, so IPeak Hill Sydenham Dec: 21, '77 My dear Kitty; Although I dont owe you a letter, I mean to write to you again before you answer my last to send you my very good wishes for Christmas and the New Year, may you have a very happy one. [*This letter seems to me an uncommonly dry one - pleases excuse it if you find it so.*] [*Fancy, this is the 3rd Xmas I've known you and I've never yet been able to give you my good wishes in person - I only wish I could!*]Our two absentees are now at home for the holydays: Papa and I went to King's X to meet her (Flo) on Monday evening, the express came in punctually to its time, 7 00 so we didnt have much more than 5 minutes to wait and got home by about 8.20 which was much earlier than the others expected us. Flo is looking very bonny - she enjoyed the ball immensely. I wish we could have seen her dressed for it; she wore such a pretty dress, white japanese silk made princess fashion with no color only a little spray of holly on each sleeve and ditto in her hair. Nettie is still obliged to be very careful as her knees are both weak- but the Doctor wont let her lie down too much, he says it will make the knees stiff; they have to [E F Matthey] be painted with iodine and bound with flannel - the Doctor at Nottingham seemed to think she ought not to walk at all and she hadn't been out for a proper walk for more than a month before she came home and consulted our old Doctor. She is much better now and looks very bright & well. It is dreadfully dull weather, not at all like Christmas; the wind is something intolerable, it makes walking quite a bore- I daresay you'll laugh at the idea as I've no doubt you scorn minding wind or[Lina Matthey] Peak Hill Sydenham July 19.77 My dearest Kitty; As I have plenty of time this afternoon I may as well take the opportunity of writing to you for it's more than six weeks since I last wrote- the time has passed so rapidly that it hardly seems credible so many weeks have elapsed since. I must not forget to thank you for your interesting epistle from Kitzbuchel - how dreadful the storms must be! I'm afraid I should be very much in dread of them were I in your place - I dont like storms of that sort!Have you decided yet what your plans are to be - dont make up your mind to go to Nice it cant want you as much as England!! Think what a little time since you were at Nice and what a long long time since you've been over here Kitty- do decide in E's favor: now you have suggested it you mustn't be surprised if I go on 'plaguing' you till you say 'yes.' Only if you were to come to some place where I should be unable to see you (Swanage for instance) I would much rather you stayed abroad- there!! I shouldn't get over it in a hurry- selfish sentiments? but if Miss Alice Blackwell is as much to you as you are to me you can understand it! Ask Miss Marian Blackwell if she cannot spare you this time. I wish so much that you would put your wish to come and live by the sea in England into practice- will you some day? I'm afraid if I say more apropos of this subject you won't take the trouble to read it so as I think I've said enough for one while I'll have the grace to leave off. The College holydays begin this week- we spent a most pleasant evening there on Tuesday last- Miss Jebb is so very kind and altogether charming; she is quite young, not much over 30 and has beautiful, large eyes which are her chief good feature: otherwise she is not really pretty tho' her expression is so very nice that one doesn't notice that. My sister M. is deeply in love with her.I have not been to the Bethells since the end of June as the children went into the country for their holydays but I shall most probably go on with their lessons to the end of August when I hope to go away somewhere to the sea with Papa sometime in September before the college begins again. I think we shall go to Miss Bird's as Papa likes old Hastings and of course I do! I shall feel as if you must be somewhere about- there wont be another Kitty Barry there this time-unfortunately and I shouldn't like another if there were- nothing short of the original would do. We have been enjoying the most charming weather lately- June was lovely and as yet we have had no intensely hot weather such as we had last year at this time - we certainly cannot complain. If all be well my sister Lissie hopes to go to Edinburgh to spend five or six weeks with a distant relative of Mama's - she will go in the beginning of next month if it can be arranged so. Flo will (D.V.) join Lil for a fortnight staying in E. so they are sure to have a jolly time of it. If Lissie hear of anything that she approves of (and we too) she will probably remain there and try how she likes a winter in Scotland- I'm afraid it would be rather cold for her. Of course Flo is longing to see L. - I wish we could all get a peep at her (F); but it cant be!Nettie has been enjoying her visit to the Austins at Barfreston- I think I told you she was going in my last- tomorrow she comes home (D.V.) for a fortnight. What do think of the war? Are you of the opinion that the Russians & Turks are six of one & half-a-dozen of the other - I cant say I think there's much choice in the matter- it would be well if the Russians when they exclaim against 'Bulgarian atrocities' would remember the old proverb 'Those who live in glass houses' etc.- do they forget about Poland? A circumstance which occurred at Christ's Hospital has created some sensation in London & elsewhere - a boy about twelve years old actually committed suicide by hanging himself - of course the matter will be thoroughly investigated but what is known so far is that the boy resenting the treatment he received from one of the Monitors ran away from school upon which his father sent him back when he put into execution a threat which he had uttered to his sister poor child! he surely must have been in a great state of mind to do such a thing. I met Miss Butler at the R.A. about a fortnight ago - I dont think she was looking very well I only saw her for a few minutes as left soon after we arrived- Mr Butler, Marion's father was with her so of course Miss B introduced me to him - he seems a very agreable nice man I liked him very much- I was sorry to see so little of them both.There is to be a grand concert at the Palace -Mr Mapleson's Benefit on Saturday to which some of us hope to go - Milsson will sing also Sims Reeves so it will be very nice no doubt. It rained here on Sunday (St Swithins's' day!) and has rained a little each day since. The College of Preceptors' Certificates were given away at the College the other night & Maggie and I received ours at last: I'm afraid this subject doesn't much interest you tho! Mama & L. always wish me to send their united love to you when I write. A great deal of love from myself Carissima (you have a good large share of my heart) Always yours Lina Matthey. Please give our united kind regards to Dr Blackwell. I hope she is well.[*Very much love Carissima; thanking you for your kind interest in dear Lissey I am Always yours Lina*] Peak Hill Jan. 12. 77. My dearest Kitty, Many thanks for your kind letter received on the 10th inst. - you were very good to write again so soon. Lissie very much likes the idea of being companion to the Baroness - I think it would be very nice for her- such an entire change would do her all the good in the world. She has given me a note to enclose to you in which she has answered your queries; and she begs me to say that she hopes you wont think it too business-like - she thought it would save troublein case the Baroness should think further of it. Do you know of what religion the Baroness is, also whether she is English? The Photo Lissie encloses being my property, you can keep as long as you like; I must ask you to return it eventually however, as it is the only one of her that I possess, so I cant part with it more especially as (probably, D.V.) I shall have to part with the original 'ere long. Maggie and I will have to make the most of each other if Lissie go- we shall sorely miss her- at the same time I should be very glad for her sake. And so Mr Sachs, the lovely one always accompanies you wherever you go - certainly he shews good taste, I think; I can only say I dont wonder at him; were I in his place I know I should do the same. I was very much surprised at your news concerning Mr D[ennis?]' probable engagement to Miss Sanger- I wonder at her consenting to marry him- I should never have thought it - however I suppose he may be nice - "chaqu'un a son gout." It's rather too bad of you to accuse me of being extravagant - I weighed my letter at home & thought it was exactly 1/2 oz; but to be on the safe side, I made them weighit at the Post Office & they said it was over weight so I of course put on another stamp. Lissie & I wanted to go over to Belvedere today to lunch with the Blount's & to see Nettie who has now returned to Belvedere; but it is so very foggy that we must give it up for today I shall get "Dr Antonio" as soon as I can - & think of you when I read it! I have just been reading Mrs Gaskell's "Life of C. Bronte" I like it very much indeed. As you wish to have my Photo I enclose it - you are perfectly welcome to keep it (if you care to) the opinions with regard to it's being good are various- most people think it rather too grave looking - I think on the whole it is good I know I sometimes feel just as I look in that Photo.Peak Hill Sydenham May 22nd 76 My dearest Kitty I got home very comfortably after I left you on Saturday. I had 18 minutes to wait at London Bridge for the 6.50 train. I must say I dont much admire a long omnibus driveomnibuses are such jolting concerns, I dont feel as if I had got over the effects of it yet. I so much enjoyed seeing you Saturday dear Kitty and hope to have that pleasure on Thursday if you can come then, {if not, Wednesday if you will come by the 12.40 from Victoria, I will be at the station to meet you it would save you any trouble you might have in finding Peak Hill. I must conclude this short note as it is breakfast time. Goodbye dear Kitty Always yours Lina Welsh Bicknor Rectory Ross. Oct. 19. 81 My dear Kitty, I really must send you a line to request that I may know the cause of this long silence. I trust it is not illness either of any of your friends or yourself that has prevented your sending me a letter from the other side of the water. We commenced lessons again 3 weeks ago. I spent my holidays quietly at Brighton this time and enjoyed them immensely. Flo I am glad to say is growing more herself againshe was much better when I left, though she is not likely to be quite strong & well under a year more. She and Lil are the only two at home as Margaret has just left to go and take her abode at Tunbridge Wells; the people she has gone to (the Murdochs) seem very nice and kind and are very rich. The only drawback is that it may not be permanent as their governess has only left from ill-health & may return - but M. will be there 3 months. Nettie and I hope to go up for the St Andrews Exam. in April - to gain an L.L.A. Certificate one must pass in 4 subjects, we each mean to take 2 this time & 2 in '83 (D.V.) She intends to take History & Moral Philosophy & I the former and Literature. I find it takes up all my leisure time and I am enjoying the pleasant feeling of having my time well filled up. Besides I am learning Julius Caesar - I want to know the play through by Xmas; I learn it when I am dressing & when I go out at 12 oc.. It is easy learning.We had a dinner-party last week and we all enjoyed it very much - we had more music than we usually do & altogether it was very nice. I hope you and the Dr are well - I shall be very glad to have just a line to know how you are. I must stop now Love from yr affectate Lina Friday 21st I add a line to say that I have thought it necessary to write to Lucy a letter in strict confidence to her and Harry, giving her the exact facts about Ellen's monomania - for it is really medically speaking such, of which we have many examples. I begged her to consider this a family secret - not be imparted to Alice or the younger generation - but if she should do so, it would not be of serious consequence. It is necessary that L and H should know why Ellen must not come to England.E Peak Hill Sydenham Oct 15th Dearest Miss Barry We are safe at home again you see after our journey, which we found really very cold - our fellow passengers were not at all interesting, however one of them lent us the Times which proved very acceptable as we had no books with us.It was a beautiful sunset though very stormy looking. I wondered whether you were watching it too - We had such a wet day all yesterday, but of course that didn't hinder my going to Sir J. B's Class, I like it very much, I think it will prove very interesting - you should have heard him pulling to pieces the way in which the majority of the English girls play; as a specimen he took the Moonlight My walk this morning will be up West Hill to meet Lissie who has gone to the Palace to practise drawing. I suppose her copy is up there. One misses the sea so after one leaves it, there seems something wanting somehow - I daresay you will soon have some rough weather and there, I think the sea look most beautiful. when those great waves come dashing up to the Parade. How do you likethe new-comers? I suppose they have Mama's & my places at the table; are they nice & interesting at all? I hope you will find them agreable people. I hope you will tell me all the Castle House news it seems such a time since I said good bye to you all. I shall most probably go to the Concert tomorrow as Florence takes her singing lesson at 13 00 & I can practise up there meanwhile and then we shall get good seats for the Concert. There aren't any of my favorites except [Senico?], I'm sorry to say. anyhow the music is always good. I think you said it was your cousin's birthday soon; will you kindly give her the little card enclosed with my best wishes. I really must bring this to a close now. Mama sends her love to you & your cousin, and so do I, dear Miss Barry Ever yours very sincerely EmmeyP.S. Will you kindly remember us to all the pleasant circle? I am afraid this letter is a very stupid one, please excuse it if you find it very uninteresting. I shall be looking forward to your letter you may be sure. Please dont call me Miss Matthey when you write; do call me Emmy Adieu. Sonata' and took off our way of playing it, I must acknowledge some of it applied to my performance of it, but it shall not any longer if I can help it- I mean to go at it and see if I cant make something better of it - he gave us some very useful rules for practising which I mean to try and remember. It appears that being students at the C.P. entitles one to six tickets for the skating rink for eighteen-pence, instead of one for a shillingso I daresay we shall try it some times, if Mama & Papa are not too much afraid of our getting hurt. I should so like to be able to skate, it looks so very inviting, though I dont think a rink can be so nice as real ice. I was thinking of you yesterday did you play backgammon with anyone in the evening? I hope Dr Blackwell came home quite safely last night. I shall always look back with pleasure to my nice walks with you over the cliffs. I did enjoy them so.Peak Hill Sydenham Dec 1st 75. My dear Kitty I am really rather anxious to hear from you as it is more than a month since you wrote and then you know you said you would try to write oftener! Perhaps you did not get my letter of the 6th Nov? Do write soon if you can, as I am afraid you may be ill. I hope you are not.I hope you are enjoying more favorable weather than we are, it has been exceedingly cold & dull here for some time, & we had just a little snow. With best love, and hoping you are all well I remain Very sincerely yours, Emmeline F. Matthey.