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FERNLEY HOTEL 5 & 6, PIERREPONT STREET, BATH.
Proprietresses : M. E & A. N. PEAK.
June 1st 1896
My Dearest Claire,
I received your loving letters of the 20th and 21st, this morning. So happy to hear of your patient, it ought to encourage you, dear one.
Today is the first of June, my month - I am always very happy in June, and yet - a strange coincidence I don't think I have ever seen you in June in my life. Seven years ago, I did not know of your existence. Six years ago, June, I was in Nantucket convalescing - Five years ago you were in Oberlin -
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Four years ago you were in Oberlin - Three years ago you were in Oberlin. Two years ago we were not on speaking terms scarcely. You remember July broke the spell of silence. Then one year ago you were abroad, and this year it is me who runs away - I trust though, my darling, we shall spend many happy times together in the future.
Well, I must begin at the beginning; I think I left off with Thursday night at Lohengrin. It was grand. I realized more than ever the deeper spiritual meaning of the plot, Elsa tipifying
[page break] the christian soul, tossed about by doubts + distrust temptations of the evil one while truth, purity, the religion of Christ Himself, tipified by the Knight of the holy grail, comes to her with all gifts of love and happiness, in his hand, asking only faith - perfect trust in exchange for all. It is a great and beautiful sermon. Friday we went to the Royal Academy and saw the pictures of the year and spent the evening with the Randalls. Saturday morning, we called on the Buzzards and spent the afternoon at the "Zoo" It was very enjoyable. Sunday morning St Pauls, and
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140 who do you think touched me on the shoulder + greeted me, as soon as we were seated - Bella Allen Mrs Heath, now, They are on their wedding trip - We had quite a chat afterward. Her husband seems quite a nice young fellow, but they both looked very disgusted and tired out with too protracted a honeymoon I wonder if we shall get tired to death of each other? I trust in God that we shall not, and this is the recipe, darling, to avoid it - "To keep in the line of duty." It is seeking after pleasure that makes the fair Goddess coy and evasive. She delights in keeping just out of reach of those who persue her. Well - to continue We went to the Churchills to dinner and to a grand service at Dr Parker's in the evening. This morning [Harry?] Churchill, the doctor, called, also Marie, after which
[page break] Ernest + I went down to see the Randall's, get mail, which consisted of your letter only, and say goodbye to them, then I did a little shopping and came home + packed. We left for Bath at three oclock, and here we are - perfect weather, dear old sleepy town. Abbey clock sings a tune every 15 minutes. Uncle Miller says "give my love to Clarence and tell him to make a specialty of rheumatism There will be a fortune in it, when I get home" Well, dear, tomorrow, I am going to desert my two brothers and run down to Nailsworth and visit Mrs Seeley a few days, she has written several times begging me to come.
Not much more than two weeks from the day you get this, I shall be home
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again. What Joy - You must think aout me on my birthday, you see when I get home, I shall be just as old as you and I can be saucy for two months - after which in view of your great age, I shall simmer down and be respectful to your years + grey hairs Well, dearest, its 11 oclock (supper time) with you, + I must get to bed, so goodnight and a kiss on each eye from the Sunshine Grace
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FERNLEY HOTEL BATH JUN '96 POSTMARKS OF LIVERPOOL AND OAK PARK
