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Ellergreen, Kendal. - Congratulates Caroline on Robert's engagement to Elizabeth van der Hoeven, whom she remembers as a 'most attractive & rather impressive girl of 19' who played the violin 'delightfully' and whom they all admired greatly; she knew one of Mary's 'young cousins' [Alice Jones] from school at St Andrews. Very glad to think Caroline will have 'a daughter so loveable and interesting and accomplished'; also good to have 'a link of peace with Holland just now' [at the time of the Second Boer War]. She and her father much enjoyed their Sunday with Caroline; he is ill with a fever at the moment, though she does not think seriously.

28, Queen Anne's Gate, S.W. - Does not want to 'force [Caroline's] confidence', but has heard from Mary Cropper [letter originally enclosed] and received a letter from Robert this morning announcing his engagement. Hopes Caroline and George approve; Miss van der Hoeven sounds very nice. Hopes it will be 'a good omen of rapprochement between the Dutch and us'; specially liked the people from the Hague whom she saw. The [Second Boer] war is 'almost overpowering'; imagines the anxiety of her cook, Mrs Greenslade, thinking about her husband fighting for ten hours 'without food & water'; seems 'almost too good to be true' if he escapes a third battle; seeing her constantly does bring it home. Margaret [Holland] seems 'almost overdone' with work for the Surrey branch of the Soldiers and Sailors' Families Fund; Alice fears it is too much for her; often hears from her but has not seen her for some time. Notes in a postscript that she went to Charing Cross to see the Northamptons off for Egypt; she was the only one there; Lady Northampton is 'very helpless'.