| Description | This letter follows a visit by Elizabeth's parents to see her at school in Saxe-Meiningen. Elizabeth writes that she hoped her parents had returned home safely and were rested after their travels. She also remarks on bathing in the river, noting how pleased she was to discover that she was a good swimmer.
Elizabeth writes 'I like the girls in my bedroom very much'. She refers to her friend Lizzie Dunlop who had instigated a 'bolster match', or pillow fight, one evening when the girls were supposed to be asleep. Unfortunately, one of the pillows had hit the door of the room occupied by the school's French Governess, Madamoiselle Dupare who had scolded the girls for making so much noise. Although the girls had managed to persuade Madamoiselle Dupare not to mention the incident to the school's principals, Elizabeth writes that Miss Trinks had given each of the girls who shared the 'corner room' a lecture 'on the sin of disturbing a stranger'. Elizabeth writes that a German girl, also called Elizabeth, had received the most severe scolding, Miss Trinks telling her that she was the 'worst girl in the school'. Elizabeth adds that the girls from the other bedrooms had also been sent for by Miss Trinks. One room of girls had been scolded 'for talking English', but the other girls had been praised for their good behaviour. |