Oxford society is very pleasant I think, everybody so amiable & nice, most unlike what one would imagine such a small highly cultivated world to be. Gerald [Berners] has taken up his residence there. Apparently he has a mania for tea-shop life & Billa says it is a kind of task, undertaken in turns, to face Gerald across rather grubby check tablecloths at mealtimes.
Much love darling
& many more thanks for the grapes, Nancy
Darling Nard
Well, Nard About the 1st December. I could come then, again. May I come? Do say yes, do. Because, Nard, I do love visiting you, I do, really. And, you know now I am well again, I can’t bear life. I mean, this war!
You see, when I first came back, I thought all this was a play, and I was looking on. Now, I know I have a part to play, & I can’t bear acting it!
Next week am going to stay with Woman, which will be fun, I shall see Max! Oh, Nard, I love, adore Max!
V Best Love, Nard, from Bobo
Darling Honks
I thought I would just write and say how completely better I am although you couldn’t possibly be interested. I came up here in the most glorious luxury with a nurse and I was wheeled in a chair across St Pancras to the train! I am still in bed but getting up tomorrow, I can’t face getting up today as I should be alone with that awful old Eddie M[arsh].
I was terrified that Gilliat would say I wasn’t to start another pig for two years but thank goodness he said six months rather grudgingly and even that depending on my kidney. I write long letters to Muv about my medicines and things but I’m sure she says ‘Orrhhn’ and doesn’t read them.
I do hope what I saw about Sir O in the paper is true, I was so excited for you, it will make a difference.2
It is so absolutely dreadful about Esmond isn’t it,3 I don’t know what to say to poor Squalor, I don’t even know how to begin the letter because I can’t start Dearest Cheerless like I usually do. Thank goodness she has got her pig anyhow. It is so much worse for her because of her being so queer one feels she would mind even more than most people.
I do die to see you again. I’m home till the beginning of January when we move into a new house at Stanmore. At least that’s what we mean to do but it all depends on getting a maid which seems literally impossible.
Andrew can’t get away for Xmas which is sad but he is coming up for one day next week. He was so wonderful when I was actually having the baby and stayed with me till the last moment.
Much love, Debo
Dearest Hen
I am so appalled by the news I heard from Muv that I simply don’t know what to say or even how to begin. It must be so absolutely dreadful for you waiting for news. I have sometimes tried to imagine what it would be like if anything happened to Andrew and I can almost guess what you must be going through. I am so hopeless at writing, but I have been thinking the whole time of you, and I do so long to see you, it seems such ages that I’ve almost forgotten what you look like and I do long to see Constancia.
This is a hopeless letter but I can’t make it any better because of being so hopeless at explaining what I mean.
Much love, Hen
Darling Nardy
Oh! How much I wish you could be with us here for Christmas. These two hankies are instead of a Christmas card – the boys each wanted to buy one for Bobo & actually four went to the coupon so I had these for you. I believe you actually have Kit with you now, how marvellous that it has happened in time for Christmas; it will at least make all the difference to you both. I am in a terrible haze because we will be a huge party with almost nothing to eat, at least that is how it seems now. I suppose it will be OK in the end. We will be eight in the dining room, Muv, Tom, Bobo, Captain & Mrs Fox, the boys & myself. The usual four in the nursery & three in the kitchen. I hope the one turkey will go round & leave something for Friday!!! Poor Derek had to go back yesterday. I can’t even go down & have Christmas lunch with him tomorrow because he will be ‘on’ today & tomorrow.
There is no more news but I will write again soon.
Much love & best wishes from Pam to you & Kit
Darling Diana
I’ve just seen your charming babies. I think Max is a peach. Alexander didn’t like me much I think. I was very disappointed but I suppose it would be all right if he got used to one. Max has terrific poise hasn’t he. It was heaven to see Nanny.
Henry Yorke would love to visit you. He said I was to ask, & not tell him if you would rather not. It would have to be this month as he is on leave from his fire fighting.
Bobo is being very reasonable. She was too naughty when she was with me. I took her out to luncheon in a place where by bad luck I happened to know two other people lunching & she put on a completely mad act, announcing to the room at large ‘I’m going to have my feet off, Nancy’ & really being too naughty. She did much the same with poor Gladys who nearly died of it! Here however she is much more normal, though inclined to be rather bad tempered.
Goodness the prettiness of the country after months of London also it is bliss to be out of that pitch-dark shop,1 much as I like the work.
Much love from NR
Darling Diana
How could you be so wonderful it brings tears to the eyes. You can’t imagine the horror of the stocking situation in a book shop where one is forever on one’s knees & I spend my weekends darning. Anne Hill1 wears black & white check wool ones but I somehow can’t –
Bobo enjoyed my party. She brought a ghastly old dress full of moth holes so I crammed her into my only good black one which we left undone all the way down the back & she kept on a coat so all was well but it was rather an awful moment when I saw what she did propose to wear. Then she refused to make up her face but the adored Capitaine Roy2 took her upstairs & did it for her. So in the end she looked awfully pretty.
Cecil [Beaton] came into the shop ‘such an oasis’ & roared with laughter for an hour. The shop is really very gay now, full of people all day, & I am installed in the gas fire so manage to keep fairly warm.
Fancy favourite aunt how blissful. I can’t think why as I am completely tongue tied by children, even yours, & at a loss how to behave. I long for a niece, can’t you provide one.
It would be fun to see you with Dig & Henry [Yorke] as I hear you suggest though slight waste not to see you alone.
Goodness I feel old, going grey