‘I have been reading a very pretty book, The House of Quiet. Now I have Herbert Spencer’s Autobiography, which I am not reading, but a friend picks out bits for me. I have been going over again some old friends, Dr. Jekyl, Cecilia de Noel, etc.’
To the same:—
‘June 1905.
‘I had a very enjoyable visit to Winchester to the annual meeting of head-mistresses, and last week I dined at the Clothworkers’, my first experience of a City company’s dinner. There were many interesting people.’
In the summer holidays of 1905 Miss Giles accompanied Miss Beale to Oeynhausen. The two following letters concern the preparation made for this visit to the German baths.
‘July 1905.
‘Have you quite made up your mind not to come to the Quiet Days?... remember you will have a period of spiritual starvation as regards church-going....
‘I mean to take as little as possible ... we do no visiting ... a few books I must have. If you come, you could write out your notes of addresses and read them to me, as I am not likely to hear them.... We have had twelve concerts, and I was present at most of them. I have not yet signed a report, and have taken leave of only some of the about one hundred and twenty who will leave.
‘I thought of taking Illingworth’s Personality,—and perhaps Lux Mundi, if you do not know it well; also some Hamlet books: but I shall take chiefly light books, in a material sense.’
On returning from Germany Miss Beale went to Hyde Court for her niece’s wedding, and wrote on arrival to Miss Giles.