Sunday May 15, 1892

My darling Pets,

How are you to-day my darlings? It is cold windy and wet to-day, such a change after our lovely hot weather all the week - it rained a bit yesterday too, but was very close all day. I have written 5 letters to-day - to Arthur & Emmie, Gyp, Hedley, Miss Hall the dressmaker & Clare Robinson to say we got home safely last night. It is just 6 o'clock - we have had a nice cosy tea & have a big fire. I have not been out to-day, Lots went to the concert this afternoon. We got up at 9 this morning.

Friday after tea Lots & I went out to High Street shopping it was very hot out. I bought another shirt, white with red spots and frill down the front - for 2/6 1/2 - the same as I gave 2/11 3/4 for they have been reduced. I have it on now - the other one is dirty. And Pets I bought the pretty dress I told you about last week. I got 12 yards at 1/2 1/2 altogether 14/6. I will send you a little pattern & you must tell me how you like it. I think it will look charming made up. We had such an adventure - we were walking down High St - Lots told me something & I laughed (not loudly) - there was a man being driven in a hansom, well, I suppose he thought I was smiling at him & he looked & laughed & poked his head out. He only drove on a little further & then got out & walked up to us - at the Park gates & then he walked quicker & met us at the other gate. We were so frightened - but we walked straight past him & gave him such a look & then we went into Barker's to buy my dress. He was such a handsome fellow - just fancy him getting out of the hansom & following us. It was very funny, but that afternoon everybody stared at us - we felt so uncomfortable we can't think what it was - I asked Lots if I had a dirty face & she asked me if she had a black eye - we couldn't make it out - people stare at us other days but man, woman & child looked at us then. I went to my singing lesson at 9 yesterday. At 11.30 the porter came up & said Sir William Clarke had come to see me - I was surprised for I didn't know they were in England yet. He was in Sir George's room & when I went in he was reading my report & was very much pleased with it. He said he was delighted with all my reports. He looks so well & is just the same.

Sir George is not back from France you know - so we had a nice long talk together. Mr. Watson left the room after Sir William had seen my report. He asked all about College & Sir George - they are going to stay in London some time. He actually said I hadn't grown much since I left Melbourne - but I soon told him I had grown a great deal - & he said you haven't your long fair hair - of course I had it up. He said Belle Webster's people are very much against her - they think she can keep them & if she makes any money they will soon spend it for her. I had on my navy skirt - & my blouse & sailor hat - Lady Clarke sent her love to me & will come to see me in a day or two & is going to ask Miss Palmer to allow me out with them to the theatres, etc. Won't it be nice pets? They heard Madame Melba in Paris & he said she is charming & a Miss Rowe from Melb. is also studying in Paris. He said they will take me to hear Madame Melba as soon as she sings in London.

He told me all about Sir Matthew Davies losing his money & having to go back to his office again & losing the position of speaker in the Parliament. He came in a hansom. I wish he would only have some sense & give me a nice cheque. At 12.30 Clare Robinson came to take Gwen, Tom & I to Brixton to spend the day with her & her uncle, Dr. Gleeson. We took the Underground train from Sth. Kensington to Victoria & the upper level train to Brixton. It is a very pretty part - so fresh & nice - they have such a sweet place they live at "Il Nido", Loughborough Park - we had dinner at 2.30 & did just whatever we like. Miss Warren a girl from College came in the afternoon & we played & sang after going about in the garden. Then we all went for a lovely long walk to Tulse Hill - it is sweetly pretty & came back on the top of the train.

You can guess we were pretty hungry. We were going to have tea in the summer house on the lawn, but it had been raining & had made the grass damp - so we had it inside. We had tea at 7.15 until it was ready we walked about the lawn & we each planted some seeds in the garden in remembrance - & they are to be named after us. I poured out the tea & we all did justice to it I can tell you. I had some lovely flowers given me from the conservatory. We all walked to the station after tea & we got the 9.10 train & were home at 10 o'clock. We did enjoy ourselves & it only cost us 9' each. I have been invited again very soon. Dr. Gleeson is awfully amusing - he said "Now little Jessie, when you go back to Melb. you will be playing at Sir Williams' & all the young gentlemen will be raving over you & you will accept half a dozen in one evening - & then Melb. will be full of broken-hearted men & then besides you will have all the officers & gentlemen on board ship falling in love with you & if you won't have them they will be throwing themselves overboard. And heaps of other things he said trying to tease me - but I wouldn't be teased. We did have such fun out there & it was such a change from Alexandra House. Our first concert this term is to be next Thurs. week at night, May 26th. I don't think I will trust Miss Hall to make my delaine dress & I will get it made as soon as possible, because I don't know when to expect Lady Clarke & I must go out with them nicely dressed. Now my pets I must write to Jim. Good-bye dears, for today, I hope our letters will come to-morrow morn. A loving kiss for you all from Daisie.

p.s. It is Aunties birthday tomorrow. I wish her very many happy returns of the day.

Tues. even.

How are you to-day my Pets? It has been such a lovely day, but I have not been out. I have just finished practising my singing - I hope my lesson will be to-morrow. Your dear old letter came by the first post yesterday morning & one from Jim - a letter and a paper from Arthur too - I am sending you a little piece out of the paper. I will answer your questions after. I was up at 6.30 yesterday morning & practised an hour before breakfast, but it only lasted one morn., because we didn't wake till nearly 8 today. I went to my piano lesson at 10 yesterday& practised well all day & so I have to-day & I do feel so tired now. The 2 Miss Soutens came to tea with us this afternoon & stayed till dinner time. Miss Souten is going to be married soon. After dinner last night Lots & I went out & bought Lot's new evening dress - 4 1/2 yds pale pink silk 1/11 1/2 yd = 8/10 + 13 yds pale green silk 1/11 1/2 = pound 1-5-5-1/2. It will be a very pretty dress & will suit her - she hasn't practised at all to-day. Jim said he hoped to be in Ball.(ararat) on Good Friday - so I hope to have some news of him next week & also some other news.


Just fancy you having such cold weather & snow - I do pity you dears. I hope you won at the competition on Good-Friday. And I suppose Sir Waslby & Lizzie Clark are married now - what a common match & Mag Nicholls is having a fuss over her wedding. I am so sorry about the A's loosing all their money - whatever will they do? You must tell me more about it. Well pets the biggest shock I have every had is Belle Webster saying I was a flirt in London & carried on dreadfully with the boys - why I didn't know a single fellow when she was here - & I certainly do far from flirt with any boy. I am exceedingly indignant & the first chance I have I will tell Sir George - it is no good for you to write to Miss Palmer or Sir George about it, because they have nothing to do with her now that she has left College - but I shall tell Sir George & Lady Clarke when I see them. If you hear anything more write at once to Webster & ask her what she means. She is known as a terrible flirt here. Annette Baker is not at Alexandra House & besides she knows nothing about me, she is an Art student. Sir George is back and came to College yesterday - I couldn't get a long talk with him - he said he saw Lady Clarke in Paris & they had about 30 large trunks with them - he hasn't seen Sir William at all yet - not for 7 years. Now my pets I must go down to tea and then to bed. I have told you all the news. A girl from Adelaide is coming to see Lots to-morrow at 11.

Fondest love and kises for you all,
from yr. loving Jessie