July 9
Dearest Dinah
I hope your cold is better. We are all very well. I am going next week to Hugh house for my friend Mrs. Dunsmeath. – where I was in
the summer. Mrs Kirkess
& herself are going for a walk to see their friends & they leave 2 great
children & a wide house in my care. Aunt E. does not half
with it – nor do I, but I have lived to find we must do a great many
things we don’t like. I hope dear Ben’s throat is better. Our aunties love to him when you write. My
friends the Chenerys of
Leamington sailed for
Dieppe on Thursday finish
the winter at Nice & summer
at Geneva. They sadly want me
to join them there – but I do not even hint it to Aunt E.! I am truly sorry
Bessie was obliged to leave
you – a faithful servant is a real blessing. I hope the little new
maiden will answer. Aunt A
has not been very well the last few days, but she is better under
Mr. H’s care. He amused us very
much a little time ago by a bit of mystery that I was truly glad we found
not – for I owed him a grudge ever since he found out all about
Lord Raglan & would
not enlighten us as to the how. He darted off after service
one evening with super speed & the next day Aunt E. said to him – Where were
you going in such a hurry last evening? To a meeting – where? In Bath. Had you to take a part in it? Yes.
Did you speak? Yes. What was the meeting for? Many things. Were there many there?
About 40. Was there a chairman? Not exactly. Can’t you tell us something about the
object of the meeting? No I cannot. Shall we ever know? It is not at all likely you
ever will.
A fortnight after this I took up the Bath paper lent us by a friend & my eyes rested on a paragraph.
On that Tuesday evening there was a meeting – to form a Forester’s Association. 40
new members were present. The Marques of Bath was prevented taking the Chair by illness & our
friend the Dr. was appointed medical man I guessed, tho’ the name was not given. I
was so pleased to find all this out – after Aunt Eliza being so ill treated as
not to be told – So the next time he called I just said all I knew, but never hinted
a word about the paper & I ended by saying ‘I don’t forget our 3 Chair & the
penny at Bristol!’ He begged to be very kindly remembered to you & says
the plaster is only temporary – it is blisters you need. Well, morally as well as
physically we prefer the plaster to the blister. I do – but
blisters are best after all. I knew God would have very little from us were it not for the pains of blister now &
then which makes me cry unto Him – so dear Dinah found: “In the day of my trouble I cried unto God. And He heard
me.” Blessed trouble that drives us close to God & keeps us near to Him. July 14.
I just add a line from Queen’s Parade to say all are well out N.B. & I am sure
could send many loves if they knew I were writing.
Believe me, dearest Dinah,
Your fond aunt
Alicia —