28 May, 1870
Dear Mr Willoughby
I am most grateful to you for passing along the recent letter from our mutual friend, Mr Benton Frazer.
I beg to impose further upon your goodwill to ask you to convey the enclosed letter to him in return, if it is at all possible.
I have left the message unsealed, and I will not be troubled if it is examined by anyone at all along the way. As you see, I wish only to assure him of my continued good wishes. I should hate for any concern for my opinion to distract him from the matters at hand.
Again, I thank you.
Sincerely,
Miss Ruth E Sinclair
(enclosed)
28 May 1870
My Dear Mr Frazer...
My pleasure in receiving your letter (of 5 May) was somewhat dampened by the news of your continuing absence.
I have only just returned from a journey myself. You might have received the letter I sent you as I departed with the household. I look forward to relating our adventures when next we meet.
Pray, sir, do not worry yourself on my account. I understand that important business calls you away, and I will try to curb my impatience for your return.
I wish you every success in your ventures. Keep yourself well.
Yours Truly,
Miss Ruth E Sinclair
28 May, 1870
Dear Mother and Father...
By now you will have received the note I sent Sunday 8 May from Harwich.
I'm happy to say that I have returned, safe
and sound, to Town. I had some wonderful adventures at Sea.
Sir Cosmo's ship was a Marvel. There were enough well-bred ladies
in out party that none of us lacked genteel company. The Officers
and even the common sailors treated us with much more courtesy
than I would have expected. I found the sea air Invigourating.
Now we are back on England's soil, and I find your kind letter awaiting me.
Yes, my new Situation suits me very well.
My pupil, Edward, is very bright, (if lacking social graces).
He seems very eager to please, and has a voracious curiosity.
I am frankly astonished at his affectionate disposition, considering
that the poor thing was taken under Sir Cosmo's generous wing
only recently, and he has lived a very harsh life heretofore.
Sir Cosmo is the most generous and unpretentious Baronet I could
imagine. Not only has he adopted this motherless boy and arranged
for my services to tutor him... He has also taken in a charming
girl of great intelligence to be his laboratory assistant, and
found an excellent woman of good character to be her chaperone.
Sir Cosmo pays a very good salary to me, in addition to comfortable room and board. He has a somewhat tragic past, which led him to some years of seclusion. Only recently has he returned to society at all, and he seems to be making up for lost time.
I have made numerous new friends and acquaintances in the past weeks, all Ladies and Gentlemen of intelligence and accomplishment. I feel, among them, that my intelligence is respected.
Now, let's see what we can tell Mrs Berringer about my connexions...
At Lord Greyminster's opening of Parliament Ball, I danced with several fine gentlemen. Of course, many of those attending were of an older set, but there were enough willing Dancers to make even figures.
Lord James Thorncroft and I had a lovely conversation about Botany while we danced. I also especially enjoyed the conversation of Hon. Mr Aidan Ramsay, the younger brother of Baron Culbin, and also a Librarian at the British Museum Reading Room. Mr Ramsay has become rather an intimate of our social set. He has good address, and is quite the man of information.
At the Ball, Miss Chigwidgeon (Sir Cosmo's Ward), was a very popular partner in the dancing. She must have danced with every man under 60. Baron Blackhall tried to ask her to dance, but he has an unsavoury reputation, and we were able to politely discourage his attentions.
Sir Cosmo's household (including myself) recently visited the estate of the late Baron Scarisbrick, where Sir Cosmo's expertise was required to tidy up his scientific affairs. The Scarisbrick Family was very good to us, as were the neighbors.
It seems that I am often thrown together with persons of all stations. I am continually reminded that rank and merit do not always coincide. Some of the finest people I have met have been as common as can be, and some of the worst cads are very highly born. But we all know this. Only Mrs Berringer still thinks that such things are important. I leave it to you to tell her what she should know.
As for your other news...Well, what a surprise that Cousin Peter might return to England! I received a letter from him as well, and it sounds as though he might be coming to London. We'll see what he says when he gets here, I suppose.
Father, Mother says that you are overworked. You know that she is always right. Please take care of yourself! I wish I could come home for a visit. I am needed here yet, but perhaps once I have been in this Situation a little longer I will be able to ask leave to come see you. I am sure Sir Cosmo will allow it when circumstances permit.
Please give my love to everyone.
Your Loving Daughter,
Ruth
28 May 1870
Dear Mr Scuddamore...
I am writing regarding the planned reading of the Moth Paper, which you had so kindly offered to give on my behalf. I have reason to believe that some further revision may be necessary, and I must not yet publish it.
May I call on you on Monday next, 30 May? I would be most grateful.
Yours sincerely,
Miss Ruth E Sinclair
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