As to-morrow is your birthday I write to wish you a very happy birthday, and many happy returns of it.
I am so glad that Cyril and Ethel found you at home Did you find her much changed? She was a little creature when you left Bruges, and she is still small for her age: she will be sixteen next October. I need hardly say that she is a good child for I think that you can see that in her face. Cyril is also growing up a good steady boy, though perhaps I ought not to call him a boy as he is going on for nineteen.p2as for your Godson, he is a bit of a pickle,[1] though not such a scamp as John.
I am so glad that you think that you will be able to come for Bernie's first Communion I do so hope that nothing will happen to prevent your doing so. If all goes right it will take place on Corpus Christi.[2] Perhaps I shall see you before that, as I must stay at Courtray for 50 minutes on my way to Tournay[3] on the 11th of June. I wish that you could manage to come to the Station and have a chat. I dont know where you live[4] and even Cyril does not know the name of your street, so I suppose I must address this to the Church where you are Curate[5]
I am so glad to hear that Florence has become a nunp3I shall pay her a visit[6] before I leave Belgium.[7] I dont at all like the idea of leaving Old Bruges, but it cant be helped, our boys are growing up, and it is about time to think of their future. We could not do anything with them over here. There is only one thing I like about this plan of living in London[8] and that is that we shall see Frank once or twice a week. I am happy to say that he is going on for the Priesthood[9] very steadily. I had a letter from Dr Schobel last week, he had just seen Frank, and told me that he thought that he would make a very good priest indeed. He will be made sub-deacon next Christmas, I think; he will then be 21 years of age. I still correspond with some of my old friends from the English College[10] namely —p4Mr Bonte, Mr Van Doorne and Dr Schobel, and sometimes, but very rarely, I have a letter from Mr Pycke.[11] When I was in London two years and a half ago, I saw him three times, and I met him at the Station here last summer but that is all I have seen of him since he left the College. The others always pay me a visit regularly every summer.
I am sorry to say that I cannot get news of my sister Mary Anne in any way. I dont know whether she is living or dead or where she is.[12] I dont think that she knows of the deaths of my sister Maria, my father and my brother. I dont understand her silence at all.
When you come to Bruges you will make acquaintance with two more of my little girls, Sibyl and Frances, Maggie you have seen. I must now bring this to a close, and begging your prayers for me and mine
