Case 1214

friends, more especially to my sister & niece whom your assistant secretary will remember accompanied us when we came to London to see her. You will I think be able to imagine their grief as well as ours at the mere possibility of the child being taken from us though I regret I cannot but feel from your letter that you do not thoroughly appreciate the sorrow which would result, as although I am willing to believe that before writing you have used all the influence you possibly could, I cannot but be surprised that you should entertain for a moment the idea that a letter requiring us to send the child by train would have the desirable result. I am very loath indeed to write in at all a mercenary spirit in the matter, but I cannot keep thinking that after the money we have willingly expended upon the child and thus released the society of a very considerable expense which would otherwise have been incurred had she have been boarded out for the time she has been with us, it (the society) could have well afforded to send