Page:Life of Octavia Hill as told in her letters.djvu/247

 v A VISIT TO CORNWALL 225 great delight. . . We are very merry. 0. thinks she has laughed more this week than in a year at home ; but I don't think she knows what a frequent occur- rence that is. ... A. has written such a beautiful essay on contentment for the Essay Meeting, and Octa a very good one on tact. . . . Did you know Hugh 1 had fought at Waterloo and in four battles in the Peninsular War. He has medals for them. . . . Mr. Maurice took away twenty-four photographs of him, so I suppose he liked him but Kattern 2 is my favourite. Hugh told us " there was a very pretty chapter Titus it gave advice to old men and young people and was very solemn at the end." He groans at prayers but poor fellow, I suppose he feels, and does not know how to express that feeling. Sarsden, Chipping Norton, November llth, 1866. To MRS. SHAEN. To-morrow I return home, after a most happy visit. I go to take possession of the four very worst houses of any I have ever had to deal with. My dear pupils become more and more to me. I cannot even express what their love and helpfulness is to me. January 4th, 1867. To MRS. SHAEN. I return home on the 12th, to a very interesting meeting at Mr. Maurice's, about forming an Industrial School. 8 Miss Sterling's servant. 2 Hugh's wife. This was afterwards known as the "Maurice Girls' Home."