June 1st, 1892

My Darling Parents,

Aren't I late with my letters and I must try and tell you all the news just the same though. It has been such a lovely day not too hot. Mother, Lots and I went out after dinner tonight and I had to buy a new song for my exam. It is called "La Charmante Marguerite". It is such a sweet song and suits me splendidly. It will be 2/- I think - I will pay for it at the end of the term. Mother is up here writing too and Lots is reading. Lots and I have got an invitation to stay with Sir George and Lady Grove next Saturday till Tuesday this afternoon - we haven't accepted it yet but we will tomorrow. It will be so nice too be down there for a change - & if it is fine we will have some tennis. We bought some cherries to-night - 6/ lb - I went to my singing lesson this morning at 12 instead of next Saturday and that is all the lessons I have had today. Mr Barratt wasn't here for music class. At 5 o'clock last Friday Lots and I went out to High St. and I posted and registered Jim's sleeve links - it cost 1/5 to send them and then I bought some summer stockings - 2 pairs of black lyal thread - the first open were 1/2 pair and one pair of bronze ones 2/11 - 5/8 altogether. I wanted them badly - what is left of my others are so thick and hard - I hadn't a pair fit to put on. I wasn't at all well on Saturday and had to miss my singing lesson - I was so sorry but I really didn't feel well enough to go. I was in bed until lunchtime. It was a fearfully hot dusty day and completely cooked me. Lots went out in the morning and came home like a boiled lobster and she brought me some nice bananas. She bought a new hat for herself which cost 10/- and mother trimmed it for her. It is very pretty one. Directly after lunch, mother, Lots and I went over and sat in the Park until 3 - it was nice and cool under the trees. In the evening Mother, Lots and Maggie Puror's went to a concert in St. Jame's Hall. I wasn't well enought to go - so I stayed home and did my mending - and no practise all day.

Sunday morning - I wrote to Uncle at Up-Avon and to Gyp - I told Uncle I would go and see them in the holidays. At 5.30 Mr. Hope, Hedley and Bert Hain came and Mother, Lots and I all went together to the Albert Hall. It was a very good concert - Mr. Balfour (organist) & the singers were Americans - Mrs. Starkweather (soprano) and Mr. Bovett (tenor). After it was over they came back with us and we had tea in the Council room. Bert Hain thinks Alexandra House a most magnificent house. After tea we then went out in the Park and walked round the Serpentine to the Row & Church Parade. It was lovely out and there were crowds of people - we enjoyyed it very much notwithstanding the company. I must say that I think Hedley Hain is a very nice fellow - I don't like Bert - but really think hedley is an honourable fellow and I hop we will always be friends. We came home at 8 and went to bed soon after. We arranged about going to Windsor Castle next Saturday by train and then after going over the Castle to drive through Bushy Park to Hampton Court - to leave here at 10 and go for the day - they would telegraph to have a grand dinner for us, etc. - & we would come back by boat, down the Thames. It seems that the scenery going up the river to Hampton Court is delightful. I think it would be lovely to go for a whole day like that. Well I had a letter this morning from Hedley - saying Mr. Hope had to go home on Saturday for xx and they thought the stations xx etc, would be fearfully crowded next Saturday on account of the bank holiday and xx, so our trip is postponed for a short time. We are glad now that we have an invitation to Lady Grove's. Hedley said in his letter that his mother and father are both ill and Mrs. Morey is dying and Alice Morley has got typhoid fever. Not a very bright letter for him. Won't it be lovely to go over Windsor Castle pets & I will tell you all about it when we go.

Morning morning - I had a letter from Arthur saying Don was in London on Sunday morning from Paris and was going to Westbury Sunday night. He was over on Monday and took Fiffie back with him - they wanted me to go to Paddington Monday at 6.30 and see them. I intended going but it was so fearfully hot and I didn't go, I went to my piano lesson at 10 Monday. Mr. Buer was so nice, considering that I hadn't practised much since my last lesson. Miss Turner from College came to tea with us Monday afternoon. After dinner Monday Lots and I took the bus to Mrs. Preston's. Lots went to be fitted for her evening dress and took a new electric blue box dress. It was 3 0/- for the stuff alone. It is for her best summer dress and I took my new delaine to be made - I am not to be fitted till next week. I want a new College dress very badly - so instead of having my delaine made first - I am going to get a navy blue serge - so instead of having my delaine made first - I am going to get a navy blue serge - and have a plain skirt and little cut away jacket to wear with my shirts. I can wear a navy serge on in the winter and it will be lovely for tennis and going on the boat to Paris. Don has got a yacht and two towing boats on the river at Chateau. Won't we have a lovely time there. I will wear the navy skirt I have in the house always and only wear tthe new one to go into College. I bought a new striped ribbon band (navy and pale blue) for my xx hat for College (1/0 1/2) on Monday and 3 xx for 1/4 1/2 - real big beauties - gave Mrs. Preston a pair for my delaine. We walked home from her place and saved the bus money - but we were so tied and didn't get home until 9.15.

Yesterday my dear home letters came. I will answer them after. I practised all the morning at 3 o'clock Arther came - he stayed for a little while and saw mother, Lots and Miss Palmer. And then I went out with him to the Earl's Court exhibition. Lots couldn't come - she had a lesson. We walked to the Post Office and Bobbie sent a telegram to Emmie and there we got into a hansom and drove to the Exhibition. We weren't in time for Buffalo Bill's performance. It was so nice there - a thunderstorm came on just as we were in having iced lemon squash and cakes instead of tea. Arthur bought me 3 lovely roses 9/- each - they are perfect, I have been wearing them to-day and he also bought me 2/- worth of the best sweets. We had such a jolly time there. We had dinner and then took a hansom back to Alexandra House and Bobbie got his bag and also took a parcel for us to Miss Hall - I sent my white dress to be done up and also sent the delaine you sent me for the blouse to be made up and a pair of preservers with it - & Lots sent her check dress and silk to be done up. If the maids got a hansom and Lots and I went with him to Paddington. His train left at 9.15. We stayed with him until 9.10 and then he put us in a hansom and paid for it and we came home in style. It was quite light then. He is going to send us up some strawberries from the garden as soon as they are ripe and some devonshire cream with them. Jim is thinking of settling in xx to practise - I only had a short letter from him in Ball.(ararat) - he was leaving for Melb. (ourne) the next day. My grey dress doesn't fade at all - it looks so nice now. Lots might do her hair up on Friday and always keep it up. Fancy Arthur Sweedie being dead. What a lot of young fellows are dying at home. I am so sorry Pa has a bad cold - take care of him, I am very sorry Fanny's ankle is not better, give them all my love. Sir Thomas Edler has been talking about Lots' bad reports and he is very disappointed in her. Her mother is in a great way about it because he said it before a lot of girls at the Adelaide University. Now Pets I must say good-night & be off to bed. With fondest love. Kisses from Dees.

Thurs. even.
I have just been washing my head and am going to have a little chat with you while it dries. How are you all? You are in bed now I suppose - it is just 8 o'clock here. It has been a very nice day but I have not been out. I went to my piano lesson at 9 and I have to get another book of xx studies. I have finished the other book. Mr. Pauer said he was in a train yesterday and heard 2 young ladies talking about two young Australians at the Royal College of Music now wasn't it Jimmy and fancy being talked about in a train in England. I wonder who it was. I went to harmony at 11 today and now I have no more lessons till next Wednesday. college closes on Monday. I went to Ethel Cairns' room to tea this afternoon. Cissie Russell is going home to Canada for her summer holidays - isn't she a lucky girl. I had a letter from Arthur this morning - he didn't get home till 1 p.m. yesterday morning. Poor old Granny is very bad and they don't expect her to live many days longer. Well Pets Miss Palmer came to Lots at lunch time and told her that Sir George had been in and said that Lots must be sent home and have her scholarship taken away as she is always ill and missing lessons.. Lots had to go to the Dr. yesterday morning and he said he didn't know what was the matter with her, but there was something wrong and if her cough didn't go away soon she must not stay in England another winter. She has brought it all on herself - but I shall be very very sorry if she has to go home. I wouldn't like it a bit here if she were sent home - we are so useful to one another. But I really think Sir George will have her sent home. I will see what he says about it when we are down on Saturday. Lots is in a fearful state about it and says she won't go home. Miss Palmer said they were arragning about her passage money - that she had written to Lord Hindlip. I do hope she won't be sent home - I should want to go too. Well my Pet I must say adieu for tonight with heaps of love and kisses from Dees.

Friday 11 a.m.

Oh. Such a lovely perfect day - I want to finish my letters this morning because I want to go out and buy some things after lunch. I have practised 2 hours this morning. I must get my studies when I am out and a pair of evening shoes to go to Lady Grove's. I want such a lot of things today. I think Lots and I will be going to the Exhibition with Hedley to-morrow afternoon to hear the French Republich band and we will go from there to Lady Grove's. I had a letter from Hedley this morning asking us to go with him. It is our Orchestral concert this evening - I am going to wear my pink dress and Lots new evening dress will be home for it. Mother is going down to Southsea today until Monday for the Whitsuntide. I only wish I could go to the sea-side. It was 13 months yesterday since we landed in England. I haven't any more news for you darlings. I hope to be able to start my letters early at Lady Grove's because we will be there till Sunday. Lots is busy sewing braid on the bottom of her dress. She hasn't practised at all this morning. I hop you are all quite well my Pets - I dreamt I was home last night, rather disappointing this morning. Give my love to all at Darling St. and everybody else. Fondest love and kisses to my dearest - Auntie & heaps for your own dear selves at "Enara".

From you loving daughter,
Jessie