| Description | Letter from Amelia Nyasa Laws, Aviemore, Crieff, to her parents, regarding settling into a routine, Uncle's visit to Dr. Archibald Henderson, aged 84 and still busy with church matters, visit to Dr. and Mrs. Chisholm at Crieff Hydropathic, Dr. Chisholm is still in khaki and 'looks very nice in it. I wish men in general would adopt that cut of clothing', he is well but Mrs. Chisholm is nervously exhausted, Amelia sang after tea but her voice is in need of training again, visit from Mrs. Somerville, description of the position of the Somervilles' house in comparison with Aviemore and the Hydropathic, playing Beethoven for them and then Kipling's 'Just So' poems set to music, Amelia's continued search for standard English songs, arrangements with Mr. Turner, organist at Mr. Hunter Smith's church, for organ practice, drive to Comrie, decision by the Committee that the Roman manse is to be retained for future use, and that Uncle is to go back in October for at least the winter, though Uncle will no doubt prolong it, and has said so but not to Aunt or Amelia, Uncle frequently insults Aunt Amy but does not like to be insulted in his turn, M. Benignus has written to say that the hospital in Valence would like Amelia back, on a salary of 100 - 150 francs a month with board and lodging (more than the head nurses are paid), and that Dr. Rigal has negotiated this for her, 'Valence does not attract me. It leads nowhere professionally and the malicious character of its inhabitants disgusted me. Still the facts were such a surprise', but Uncle pours cold water on the whole thing, earthquakes at Livingstonia and at Karongo, deafness of Dr. Prentice. |