It was characteristic of the vicissitudes of S. J.-B.’s life at the time that within a few days of receiving this letter she had a telegram from Mrs. Jex-Blake’s physician at Brighton: “Your Mother is very poorly. I should like you to come.”
This was delivered at 8 p.m., and it is needless to say that she started by the night train. A fortnight of anxious nursing followed; but her affairs were not forgotten:
“Local Government Board,
Whitehall. Feb. 24. 74.
Dear Masson,
I have heard, of course, also from Miss Jex-Blake. I won’t say ‘No’ at any rate at present.
First I will see Lowe and ascertain his mind; and then I should like to see if someone more acceptable to Dizzy cannot be found. I think one must look around one first in the new Parliament, before deciding.
Is not the Bill you propose simply one enabling Universities to grant Degrees to women; or what else do you propose?
Whether it is good or bad I should tell you that the wirepulling and newspaper doctors hate me.
Yours ever,