The following was written after the Head-mistresses’ Conference on October 8 and 9 at Oxford in 1898:—
‘October 1898.
‘My dear Friend,—I got home last night. Everybody was asking and thinking about you and missing you so much. I hoped for a line this morning; Susan will doubtless write to-day. I brought back Agnes Body for the Sunday here. The text in my birthday book for to-day is: “I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not.” I know this prayer is fulfilled for you. How I long to have some real talk with you now; but I think even in the body there is communion, and still more out of the body. It seems to me as if Miss Carter must be with you. Your love and care for her was returned in blessings on your own life, and through you on others. Miss Strong looks ill. She has been staying with her Bishop; that will strengthen her. That good Miss Day of Westminster was there, and sweet Mrs. Woodhouse of Sheffield.
‘I feel sure the Conference will do good, there were so many good women there;—only we missed one.’
A day or two later she wrote:—
‘My very dear Friend,—I feel somewhat cheered by Susan’s letter to-night. Each morning I have so many enquiries, “Have you heard?” Susan is good in writing. Here are three letters from some staying at St. Hilda’s, where we were always thinking of you....
‘Just two years on the 11th, since the Archbishop fell asleep. I wonder if he looks down at the school, and its first Head-mistress too. Shall we see and be able in some measure to “succour” those on earth? May the peace of God which passeth all understanding be with you.’
The next alludes to a proposed visit of Miss Beale to Miss Belcher:—
‘St. Luke’s Day.
‘Dear Friend,—I am so looking forward to Friday. I thought of you so much on this the Physician’s day, as we sang that beautiful hymn and Psalm xxx.; and our window told of the raising of the daughter by the Healer. My own life seems to me almost a resurrection, I must hope that you too may be raised up to do work on earth, ere you go to a higher sphere.’