1 Nov. 17' to 18'
Nov. 17' Rather a growly wolf without his daily meal especially when
he knows Neptune is not the cause. Perhaps there may be 2 tonight
or a big one. However I know old thing you are having a pretty busy
anxious time of it & that it is not always easy to write at 24. I hope you are getting along all right. If you can,
manage to be home from 5.30 onwards. This is the time when Mater
most misses her visitors. In fact I think she likes being alone in
the mornings. Perhaps tomorrow I shall hear better what you have decided,
to become a Dr ! to open a shop! or to culture microbes. One thing
I am glad about is that Mrs Borton if you recommend her is likely to be
a really efficient hellper to that commitee. In the next few days the Nation also has to make its decision,
on National Service. Reading Asquith's statement one would read it to mean
a) that we shall call on all the men we want.
b) that no man married before 15 August will be called out till all
bachelors have been. Consequently unless there are sufficient bachelors volunteering they
will be called out. This is so clearly how it reads, that I am quite
sure some other interpretation will be put on it when the time comes.
& I would not mind betting that many married men wil be taken
rather than call out the bachelors, tho' the married men have put
down their names on that understanding. Remind me at Xmas time
if I p seem wrong in my prophecy. There is always some misconception
of everything a Radical Minister says, & they leave everyone in the
misunderstanding till the last possible minute, e g Carson whose letter
of resignation clearly showed that he misunderstood what Asquith now says 2 was the situation. It was the same with
Seely of whom I have thought of this motto "Cum grano Seely's
Do you twig , the last word syllable pronounced "is." 18th I am very savage this morning over a very little thing. The news
has cut down it's papers to 1 Times & 1 Morning Post in order to purchase rags
like the Bystander Tatler etc. The Gen' slept from 9 till MN with the Times
on his lap, & Singleton took the M P to bed with him & neither were
available at Breakfast so that I don't see them till breakfast on
the following day. I said at mess a propos of some rather extra extravagance
that in another year we shall probably have to lead the simple life & the
general view was that is was not up to us to be economical until
the Govt gave the lead ! ! We have a lot to learn yet. By the way Castlefield has come out with an increased dividend & I
think we shall be able to increase our subscription by another £100
to the War loan, but I am again rather of opinion that it may be better
to hold back until the Govt have to put their house in order. Shilly Shally
Squiffy is again at it. // Such a nice budget of letters has come
including 2 long ones from a p v , & very welcome ones too. I agree
old thing that I am glad the war did not come earlier in our
married lives. The absolute certainty in each other, & in the other's love
would not have been the same then. As it is there is a feeling of
entire confidence which is exceedingly restful. One thing is that I now know you have learnt most of my
faults & yet are prepared to go on giving all your love to a b w in
spite of them. I can hardly wait for the next mails they
are so exciting but there ought not to be the same block again at any
rate for a while I hope. Best love from your b w WB Spender