25/07/1896

Part1….

 It seems that Mr & Mrs Hockely have been terribly sociable....

Bobbing

Wednesday

My dearest old man,

Your parcel received this afternoon, for which many thanks! I was very glad to find that all was well as regards your being late but of course, I thought it would be. I wanted very much to run down to the gate but I was not washed & neither was Artie, besides which he had not had his breakfast. So though I very much wished to do so, I was forced to abandon all idea of it.

Fancy that old Watkins! Did you tell him the previous Monday that you would be away? What is it to him whether I am at home or not - & what other questions did he put? Surely it is not possible for my father to have seen him; if he so wished he could learn more from Catts than Watkins - & he would have to make enquiries first as to who was our landlord. I should say, myself that Mrs C. or someone else told him (Watkins) an exaggerated story of what occurred a time ago & he doubtless thinks I have skedaddled. Ah! If only he knew!!

The vicar come in about ½ past five this afternoon so of course I gave him the seeds & cigar. He was so nice, & he told me to thank you very much, he said he thought he would sare the cigar and smoke it with you when you came again, unless it tempted him very much.

Mrs Goord came in this evening to ask me to thank you for the umbrella. She is most awfully in love with you – I shant say all she said - & gave us an invitation to tea at any time. Mrs Knight came in on Monday & again on Tuesday, made very kind enquiries after you, asked when you were coming again was quite effusive in fact. He has not yet put in an appearance. All the waters were at the gate, to see you off, but you could not see them & the old man watched the train go by……………………………

Skedaddled - love this word, not heard it since I was a little girl!