Letter from Lady Catherine Ashburnham to Rupert Gunnis

Is delighted with the bellows that RG has sent. Discusses RG's domestic problems. CA's father liked to do everything; he was a first class cook and could sew on his buttons, as well as being an excellent linguist and got great fun from mathematical problems. Asks RG not to dictate his letters to her when he has his 'paragon of a Price'. Is sorry to hear of the de l'Isle troubles [concerning staff]. CA knows that her former butler is now regretting his decision to leave, but she will not have him back. Fuller has returned and is coming over the next day to see Amy [Mason] to celebrate her 13th anniversary at Ashburnham. Regrets the news concerning Lord Gort. There is bad news of Agnes; Helen is home although very crippled and having a nerve breakdown, which is hard on her mother who is nursing her. Agrees with RG that they are lucky not to have children, and dicusses Margaret Loch's problems with her son. Is reading the letters of her grandfather from his travels, and thinks that she has inherited the travel bug. Is receiving some of Aunt Mary [Lady Mary Ashburnham, widow of Sydney George, 2nd Viscount Knutsford]'s pictures because she has too many to go into her new house. Is most interested in the engravings of ones which were formerly in the London house but have since been sold.