| Description | She thinks it provoking that he has to go to Nandair to wait for money. 200 rupees should meet her immediate needs, but she has no cheque book and cannot draw on the Bangalore book. She discusses legal matters arising from her trusteeship and the advice of Messrs Drew and Wilkinson. She asks about promotions from Captain to Major among engineering staff, thinking that John must be far away from that step, but Captain Lindsay thinks differently. She will wait patiently for John's letter to 'Nature', saying that Captain Maclear's is poor. She is worried on behalf of the girls at Collingwood: 'no-one of a strong & independent nature can fully appreciate the inevitable subjugation when force of will flows into heat of temper, & the one so possessed has power and the habit of exerting it'. She notes a visit from Mrs Whiteside, who sings, and there are five pianos in the hotel. Other visitors were Dr Pearl and Major [Richard Henry] Beddome, the latter correcting some of her fern identifications. She has visited the Lawrence Asylum with Captain Lindsay, supervised by Mr Bliss. and was scandalised by the dirt and carelessness of the place. There were 350 boys and among other subjects they were learning telegraphy. She was relieved to learn from his letter that John was healthy and agrees that her quarters are worse than those at home. |