From [Wu Shen Miao]. It seems too good true to be true that this will be the last Sunday letter and that two weeks from tonight they will be reunited.
It has been a trying week as his back has been bad again. A letter from Dorothy to Grace spoke of seeing Emily off and that Joan appeared upset by the parting. He does not like to think about the cost to Joan, Gordon and Morley. Perhaps this temporary loss of their parents will mean that they can eventually be together for longer later in their lives.
He has discovered that John Lester is going to Shanghai as well as [William Wildridge] Gibson. He is sorry that it will look as if he does not care enough to meet Emily in Shanghai - he knows that she does not think that is the case, but he is sorry it will seem that way to others.
[Herman Stanley] Dixon left for Anlu on Thursday and does not know when he will be back. [Ernest Henry] Livesley leaves for Wusuch and Kwangsi next Friday. The one night that H B R will be in Kiukiang will be covered here by [H. W. Kenneth] Sandy.
H B R is doing everything possible to get things ready as follows;.
- 1. The House The toilets and bathrooms have been washed and colour-washed and new fittings installed. The kitchen and laundry have been cleaned. Grace, who has made a good recovery, is looking after the curtains. Wang Shu Fu is round every day to clean up. 'He grumbles but obeys'.
- 2. The Servants The cook's wife, who was Mrs Dixon's [nurse], is the serving woman at present but will be happy to help look after the children. Wang Shu Fu should do the rest - his workload should not be too heavy. The four district rooms will be looked after by the new 'district coolie'.
- 3. The Ladies There is one lady too many for the Ladies' House. H B R is leaving that particular problem until after Emily arrives. The initial arrangement is that Miss Wagstaff will take the district bedroom on arrival. She will, he thinks, wish to live next door. H B R thinks that whatever arrangements are made at first, they should aim evantually at just having each other and the children. That will of course be more expensive but will probably be worth it, at least for a while. Which lady they should have staying with them, should be for Emily to decide. Over the years, Emily has been very good about this side of things.
- 4. The Stores He has plenty of tinned jam, oatmeal and enough butter to last for a long time. There are however a number of things which will be worth getting in Shanghai such as Lyle's Golden Syrup, Dutch sugar and prunes. He thinks that milk is just as cheap at the C.I.M. - he is paying $12.95 a case. She had better enquire about prices in other places. He will consult with Mrs [John Howard] Stanfield and Mrs [Ernest Henry] Livesley to see if there is anything else to add this list.
- 5. The Meeting The river Yangtse is low and he will probably have to spend a night in Kiukiang waiting for her boat to arrive. Emily will remember that they agreed before he left England that they would meet there. He is still of the opinion that a good talk before reaching Hankow, will be of benefit. She must send a wire with details of her passage as soon as it is booked.
- 6. Money If she has no spare cash, she should draw a check on the Mission House for the above purchases.