SIX LETTERS  
Mrs. Maradick to Miss Crowdet.
The Elms, Epsom.
October 17.
My dearest Louie,
I’ve been meaning to write all this week, but so many things have accumulated since we’ve been away that there’s simply not been a minute to write a decent letter. No, Treliss wasn’t very nice this time. You know, dear, the delightful people that were there last year? Well, there were none of them this year at all except that Mrs. Lawrence, who really got on my nerves to such an extent!
There were some people called Gale we saw something of—Lady and Sir Richard Gale. I must say I thought them rather bad form, but Jim liked them; and then their boy eloped with a girl from the town, which made it rather thrilling, especially as Sir Richard was simply furious with Jim because he thought that he’d had something to do with it. And you can’t imagine how improved dear old Jim is with it all, really quite another man, and so amusing when he likes; and people quite ran after him there, you wouldn’t have believed it. There was a horrid woman, a Mrs. Lester, who would have gone to any lengths, I really believe, only, of course, Jim wasn’t having any. I always said that he could be awfully amusing if he liked and really nice, and he’s been going out quite a lot since we’ve been back and everybody’s noticed the difference.
And what do you think? We may be leaving Epsom! I know it’ll be simply hateful leaving you, dear, but it’ll only be London, you know, and you can come up whenever you like and stay just as long as you please, and we’ll be awfully glad. But Epsom is a little slow, and what Jim says is quite true—why not be either town or country? It’s what I’ve always said, you know, and perhaps we’ll have a little cottage somewhere as well.
By the way, dear, as you are in town I wish you’d just look in at Harrod’s and see about those patterns. Two and elevenpence is much too much, and if the ones at two and sixpence aren’t good enough you might ask for another sort!
Do come and see us soon. I might come up for a matinée some day soon. Write and let me know.
Your loving
Emmy.
To Anthony Gale, Esq.,
20 Tryon Square,
Chelsea, S.W.
My dear Boy,
I was very glad to get your letter this morning. You’ve been amazingly quick about settling in, but then I expect that Janet’s an excellent manager. I’ll be delighted to come to dinner next Wednesday night, and shall look forward enormously to seeing you both and the kind of home that you have. I can’t tell you what a relief it is to me to hear that you are both so happy. Of course I knew that you would be and always, I hope, will be, but the responsibility on my part was rather great and I wanted to hear that it was all right. I’m so glad that your mother likes Janet so much. I knew that they would get on, and I hope that very soon your father will come as well and make everything all right in that direction. We’re all quite settled down here again now; well, not quite. Treliss has left its mark on both of us, and we’re even thinking—don’t jump out of your chair with excitement—of coming up to London to live. A little wider life will suit both of us better now, I think. Nothing is settled yet, but I’m going to look about for a house.
Treliss did rather a lot for all of us, didn’t it? It all seems a little incredible, really; but you’ve got Janet to show you that it’s real enough, and I’ve got, well, quite a lot of things, so that it can’t have been all a dream.
Well until Wednesday. Then I’ll hear all the news.
My affection to Janet.
Your friend,
James Maradick.
To James Maradick,
The Elms, Epsom.
20 Tryon Square,
Chelsea, S.W.
October 25, 1909.
My dear Maradick,
Hurray! I’m so glad that you can come on Wednesday, but I’m just wild with joy that you are really coming to live in London. Hurray again! Only you must, you positively must come to live in Chelsea. It’s the only possible place. Everybody who is worth knowing lives here, including a nice intelligent young couple called Anthony and Janet Gale. The house—our house—is simply ripping. All white and distempered by your humble servant; and Janet’s been simply wonderful. There’s nothing she can’t do, and everybody all over the place loves her. We haven’t had a word from her father, so I don’t suppose that he’s going to take any more trouble in that direction, but I heard from Garrick the other day—you remember Punch—and he says that he saw him not long ago sitting on the shore and piping to the waves with a happy smile on his face. Isn’t he rum?
The Minns is here and enjoying herself like anything. She’s bought a new bonnet and looks no end—my eye! And what do you think? Who should turn up this morning but the governor! Looking awfully cross at first, but he couldn’t stand against Janet; and he went away as pleased as anythi............