1 'Ardeevin' March 30th Dearest Mamma I do hope poor Emma
has returned home! I have been thinking
& worrying about her being showered
and she would feel the cold so. We had a great meeting together
but she will tell you all that
& about our visit to the Admiralty. I hope I've done the right thing.
I don't know. But any way I am not
bound to anything. I dread the start.
I wish I could have had my visit
to Eastbourne & Winchester first. I have found rooms (for a time anyway)
by a strange chance at
152 Vauxhall Bishope Road London I went to enquire at Alexandria
Ladies Club, Grosvenor St about rooms,
quite a smart place. Not II feel
sure the place I intended. I saw 2 the Secretary who was pleasant and
said she had a friend upstairs who
might keep me. Down came a Mrs
R ONeill, widow of a Colonel R ONeill,
who said she was now living & working
at the Club but she had left
a friend, Miss Holmes at her
flat & this friend was anxious
to find paying guests so as not have
to give it up. Already a girl
working at the Admiralty is there
& one or two other ladies. After
much chat we came to terms ( I
think I must have looked pathetically
tired!) She said I will lodge
at the flat for a guinea a week
& have breakfast & dinner there,
(also lunch on Sundays) bath, light
and attendance. Her friend (Miss Holmes) was coming
to tea with her at the Club, and
she gave me a note to the maid
& I went off & saw the place. It 3 is near Victoria station & convenient to
Whitehall - quite a pleasant house,
with a nice drawing room, flowers
and bright fire, quite nice bedrooms
& a cheerful maid.
Well — I've heard from Miss Holmes,
& I go there on Saturday. I shall
lunch with the MacLeods & probably
meet Celia in the evening, & start
work on Monday. It seems a
promising venture but I doubt if
she'll keep me long on those terms.
26/— was asked even so with
washing, lunching out etc, I calculate
I shall be losing at least 10/— a week! If there is
no rise I can't stay at the Admiralty
— however they may chuck me! I interviewed a Secretary at the new
War office place — the pay and hours were
better there but no immediate
vacancy. The Secretary said I 4 should do much better I'm sure you are delighted to
have Emma. I feel I did not
half see her - everything was so
rushed I've been all over London lately
between looking for jobs & lodgings.
Bedford House was quite full
up. Annie Hollins turned up here last
night 6 hours late because of
the snow which make me fear for
Emma. She has been babbling
ever since! I trust that now you will come over in
May & see me & Annie F. Best love Dear- I won't have
much time for letters when I start
work! Your loving Dussie Best love to Papa.
I hope he keeps well.
I didn't expect to be away so long when
I left home!