“Dearest mother, I long to have you and my boy safe in my arms—to make sure of you both.
“How I loved my dear friend no words can express. How glad I was to have him as my guest, and to travel with him! Such an opportunity had never occurred before.”
From this date some part of Miss Buss’ holiday was always spent with Mrs. Hodgson, whose own words, after her friend had been taken from her, show what this friendship was to her also,
“You ask me to tell you something of my friendship with Miss Buss. I could only do so by giving you a long list of kindnesses received from her, kindnesses which made one wonder how a woman leading such a busy life could remember such things as birthdays, not only of one’s own, but of one’s children and grandchildren, none of whom were ever forgotten. The terrible anxiety she went through at Brussels in 1880, during the Educational Congress there, must have told heavily on her nerves, already sorely taxed. My husband went with her to Brussels, and when she found him ill and suffering at his hotel, she took him to her lodgings and gave up one of her rooms, which at that time were very difficult to get, Brussels being very full, and devoted herself to nursing him night and day for the short and fatal illness. I can never tell you of all she went through to help me, but can only say that when we arrived at Bonaly Tower, near Edinburgh, where we brought our beloved, she was very ill, the result of what she had gone through, not only to nurse her old friend, but when all was over to help and comfort me, utterly forgetful of self. Ever since that sad time she has been more than a sister to me. I fear now I took advantage of her wonderful goodness, her wise judgment, her strict sense of justice, her unselfishness, and learned more and more to consult her, who was the friend and helper of all who stood in need of help. To me her loss is irreparable, and I believe I am only one of a great many who went to her in times of trouble.”
But this sorrowful experience was not the only grief of that year, for Miss Chessar never left Brussels again, surviving Dr. Hodgson less than a month. She had not been strong, but no one had in the least anticipated anything serious, and this second blow, following so closely on the first, greatly affected Miss Buss, who thus lost by one stroke the two persons who were the greatest help and strength in her work. Like herself, they were both teachers of remarkable power, and the three friends had set themselves to raise the general standard of teaching, while at the same time their sympathies in other directions cemented a close friendship.
The force of this double loss is given very clearly in the replies from Mrs. Grey and Miss Shirreff to letters from Miss Buss, these letters themselves not being attainable—
“Meran,
“Sept. 20, 1880.
“My dear Miss Buss,
“It was only yesterday that we heard, from Miss Brough, of the death of Miss Chessar, and I write in both our names to express our deep and affectionate sympathy with you in this second, and, I fear, even heavier loss, coming so soon after Dr. Hodgson’s death. Our own sense of loss is very heavy; though we knew her so little in private life, she had inspired us with real and warm personal regard, besides admiration for her remarkable powers. We are anxious that a fitting obituary notice should appear in the Journal, if it is not already done, and have written to Miss Brough to get it done. Will you help her to do full justice to your common friend? And please, whenever you have a moment’s leisure, let us hear how you are yourself.