1 28. The PR. I think wolves turn grey & gaunt in the winter, but
p rs only turn more rosey, & gamble with squirrels, whilst the b w
cannot even find an ordinary r in this country. However perhaps
in the new place we may discover a delightful Contesse, & then. I am sorry you should write with a headache, do not
make a burden of it, but simply scamper a few paw
marks over the paper & shut up. I am not altogether satisfied with your Committee
work it seems to be getting rather in to an impasse, &
some of your co workers will not mind, I'm afraid. However
I've faith that you can square out something with Lady R
& Mrs Barr & smooth thing out. I'm rather glad you
should see a little of the relicts of the smart society way
but how absolutely nauseating all that dress flummery is. 2 I have written to Crichton that you are paying visits
but will hope to see him when you get settled down. There is a lot of news I want to hear from you
Our flat, your family ! migration, what Lady C thinks says
of my outburst to Sir E, your arrangements with Lady R
etc etc. I fancy K S must be like his wife. he was running (?)
an outpost scheme of the 14 RIR when the GOC went out
& watched. After 5 mins the battalion was ordered to march
home ! Gen C said he was not out to watch children's play. Our new "old Arty" is being detrained by Richardson
who will have rather a poor time of it I fear the next
48 hours. I wanted to relieve him, but had to be toed
off for other work. Gen' Brandon is not coming out. Too old I suppose!
We have rather a large division just now but I suppose our 3 Artywill leave shortly. Gen N is not at all keen about a separate Ulster
& would wilingly compromise with the Nationalist party
if it meant support by the Govt. There is no fervour about
his faith in this respect & he will want watching later
after the war. I think Sir E ought to know this. It
is not against him of course but simply that he has
quite different convictions to the stalwarts of the Covenant
& believes in the possibility of agreement. He showed his
true colours when L Leitrim Ricardo & I went for
him & tho he changed again at that time it was
not a conversion of mind. I'm sure old thing it was good for the Mater
to have you with her. Lately her tone has been very
much of the old age spirit & a desire for peace & rest.
It is so different from her old tone, but I do hope she
won't lose all her old fighting spirit, tho' there is something 4 fine in the change too. I really think you have
been a comfort to her, tho' I expect you have not quite
escaped all criticism. The Qnew Div taking over from us here ha s
been passing through & have some apositive bounders among
their COs. To think of England being flooded after the war
by all these Colonels ! My love to both families. You have hardly
told me a word of 2q's doings. Greedy little animal expecting to get all the
letters to yourself. As if Mater mightn't have 1
a week addressed to her. Oh p r ! All the same
I rather like you. Your b w WB Spender