A little letter, it must needs be so.  Sending my love & kisses.  All goes well & I’m fit happy & proud of my job. Dickie Ann needn’t hang his head when they talk of this war.  He must see that war is bad & ill, but that desperate diseases need desperate remedies, and that to fight, or to assist in the fighting for Britain is not a bad thing.

                        Now, how are you ?  Well, I hope.  Your health in this vital time is indeed a blessing & augers well for the future & for Dickie Annes health & happiness.

                        Did you remember to write to Auntie Edie & Uncle Fred.  They are so fond of you.  We all are.

                        The garden is a rich picture for me to carry with me, as I saw it last weekend.  All young things, & burgeoning.  When the fruit is ripe our child will be there to lie under the shadow of the trees.  Our child !  Peter’s delight in his Roger is charming.  Wait till I start boasting.  But it is you who matter.  I agree with you, great as our love for the child will be, it can only be secondary to our mutual love.  As the child is fruit of our love, so will he or she have affection which is born & constantly reborn of our continued & ever growing, ever constant love.

                        I shall try to find time to write to uncle Jack & Christopher & Marjorie & the Brookes & several other people.  Also to your Mother, who has been wonderfully sweet to me, apart from the initial & unrepayable sweetness in providing me with the best wife man ever had.

                        I do hope you like the new nurse, & that she is efficient and helpful.  Spare nothing in the Staff work of this business, leave nothing to chance, prepared for every contingency.

                        Why not put Dickie Annes money in the bank & draw it out in cheques when the time comes ?  And keep a record, so you know where you are ?  Paying in cash is easy.  Keep back 2 or 3 or 4 weeks pay, & tick the back & save trouble & a cheque.  Tick off the lot in £2 lots if you like & then draw out to pay the bills.  Or keep the cash if it’s easier & pay with it.

                        I’ve given Mr. Careless a list of allowances to expect, & also details of pensions etc.  He’ll manage the childs allowance if you like.  You’re in charge now.  If you are ever stuck, Mother will always help.

                        The house you have made for me is my dream home.  It has an atmosphere & a warmth delicious & blending perfectly our two characters.  It is in every way our home.  It will always be so.  You are very gifted, you know.  To try to do some painting, you are wicked if you don’t.  Paint me a picture to send to me later on.  Little pictures I shall so understand.  I have your verse in my case, your tiger & your birthday card, & the Virgin of the Rocks you gave me.  Also a whole lifetime of memories & a whole eternity to look forward to.

                        Now goodnight my dear.  Rest, & be Thankful.  Be happy & have faith.