& will continue to do so. ... For the children’s sake I have borne what
I would not submit to for my own.^60Explaining that the children agreed with what she had written, Emmeline then
ended her long letter expressing renewed thanks to Mr. Nodal and regretting
that he should be troubled with her private affairs.
The matter was not soon settled, but dragged on. Emmeline’s iron resolve
would not bend. She was determined that she would not be treated like some
child-like woman who had decisions made for her. ‘If I had been a recipient of
outrelief from a Board of Guardians I should have had more considerate treat-
ment for theyare allowed to state their case before changes are made’, she told
Mr. Nodal in early December. An independent minded modern woman, who
expected to be given respect in her own right for the public work she had done,
she insisted, ‘That Fund was intended to be a testimonial to my husband’s
public work not a relief fund & I who in my small way worked with him am
entitled to at least courteous treatment & I will have it.’^61 When Nodal did not
reply, Emmeline wrote again, shortly after Christmas stating that she was
anxious to know what further steps, if any, had been taken. To add to her
anxiety, she lamented, a great misfortune had happened in the family:
My youngest daughter has fallen ill with diphtheria & scarlet fever. I
have been compelled to isolate her by sending the other members of
the family away and as I cannot nurse her myself because of my official
work as Registrar I have had to engage a trained nurse.
This is of course a great trial & anxiety to me & also a source of
great expense. I have to pay a nurse for an inspection case £2. 2. 0 per
week.
There is also rent of rooms for other members of the family & the
expenses of doctor etc which accompany an illness.
In spite of all this whatever happens I would not take the reduced
sum if sent. I will not be so humiliated.^62Emmeline’s ultimatum fell on deaf ears. Early in the New Year she was sent a
cheque for a reduced amount of just over £4 which she promptly returned to
another of the administrators, Sir William Bailey, telling him that she could not
accept it.^63 Bailey tried to bring an end to the controversy, telling Nodal that he
thought that more money was wanted now than ever would be, in the future. ‘It
is very unpleasant for you and all of us who have been actuated by a noble
motive’, he opined, ‘to have our feelings assaulted with the knowledge that we
are unfortunately not promoting the happiness of those we are intending to
benefit.’^64 But the matter was still not resolved.
Emmeline continued her correspondence with Nodal, telling him how the
health of Harry had been a great concern since he had been ill away from home
and she feared he had caught Adela’s fever. To her relief, he was well again and
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