Item 15 - Letter from Henry Sidgwick to his mother

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Wwould have written before, but was expecting to hear from her about her impression of Dr Andrew Clark and of the success of his treatment. Hopes that the last arrangements of Mr Rogers are answering. Has been at Rugby with Arthur and Charlotte, and Nora has been staying there too for a week; believes that Nora gets on well with Charlotte. His and Nora's plans are still quite uncertain: they do not know whether Arthur Balfour is coming home immediately or not, but believe that he is, and until he comes Nora does not like to settle absolutely the time of their wedding.

Asks whether she has heard from William: Charlotte says he has 'quite fixed to come back to Oxford at Easter'. It has been hinted to him that some of his friends are thinking of giving him a watch and chain; mentions this because she said she was saving up his birthday presents for one. Suggests that she should 'divert them to some other object', but offers to intimate to his friends 'that Destiny has already a Watch in store for [him].' Announces that the Bishop of Exeter [Frederick Temple] is coming to dine with him that evening; he is preaching at St Mary's, and 'all the old Rugbeians are coming in afterwards to see him'.