Page:Life of Octavia Hill as told in her letters.djvu/88

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LIFE OF OCTAVIA HILL
CHAP.

to Queen's Square, where I was most kindly received. Mr. Maurice had just returned from Cambridge and had four gentlemen with him; so I did not see him or Mrs. Maurice. Kate[1] was busy making ornaments for a Christmas-tree "for the boys." I was there a long time, and it was a complete success. Miss Sterling grows every day kinder.

(Then follows a list of the little presents given to her on her birthday by the toy-workers) …


Ladies' Guild,
December 19th, 1855.

To her Mother.

I have received your letter and will attend to the business. ... About coming to Weybridge. … Mr. Maurice tells me that he will preach at Lincoln's Inn on Tuesday morning. Of course I cannot miss that; but I will, if necessary, as a great sacrifice, give up the morning service, on one condition, that it is not made a precedent for expecting it again. … I very much wish to spend some part of Christmas with you, and to see you again; but I very much wish you would all be contented, if I spent Christmas Eve with you, as I would much value to do so. See how people feel about it, and let me know.


Ladies' Guild,
4, Russell Place,
December 24th, 1855.

To Miss Harris.

I know very well that you will like to hear of my little darlings. For some time past I have written but little about them, because I have been much

  1. Kate Sterling, afterwards Mrs. Ross.