A letter, dated 15 July came this afternoon. Still pre-Dickie but getting better. You have probably started to use these cards now. You had the idea I gather, that only normal mail was allowed. My fault. All mail is allowed & 95% is Air Mail & 4% ordinary & 1% papers. Local papers & Spectators are O.K. I’d love the Spectator &/or Punch. Also mail letters, as well as cards. I don’t think ordinary post is any good except for parcels & papers. No letters allowed in papers. Your mail isn’t censored, ever.

                        All well & gay. A letter card from Mother of 15 Aug, just as she was packing up to go to Great Alne. News of that will come, maybe quite soon now.

                        But even though letters are few & far between, I know with fullest confidence that you think of me whenever anything good, interesting or gay. And at night & in the first waking hours you think of me as I of you. And my son Richard. What of him ? Does he grow in grace & understanding, does he gain in awareness ? Are his feet pink & has he delicate & tiny fingernails ? A tongue & ears ? Large  ? Do they stick out a le Redding or lie flat ? I expect their sail-like, like Gerald’s.

                        Now a party of Arabs, grateful for us keeping troops of their little corner of a field have sent for me to a “party”. Drum & double pipe (I’m trying to buy one for you) & a 12-year-old boy, Sala, dancing. Also a camel kneeling hard by. A fuller description will follow. A charming incident. The little boy, Sala danced hypnotically into a complete state of insensibility. How you would have loved it all, especially the old old Arab with the pipe & the camel. How is your mother ?

                        Your letter told a cricket match! Great Alne & cricket . And dear Granny Annie sitting there all the while. With the Spencers & Beares. And you too shy. We’ll take Dickie. Staying behind.

                        Mother’s letter was very excited. She tells of a girl who is to stay with her, a grand idea, for company is very necessary for person as companionable as Dickie’s Granny Rose. Dickie will fall under her spell, & he is very fortunate in his “People”, especially his Mother. MOTHER, you, Betty Thirlby of the School of Art ! Wouldn’t the Hall Porter of the Mitre be pleased. I am. Very.

                        Tommy writes these Air Mail letter cards half as small as this and his wife must have a lovely time reading them. He gets about 2000 words on each letter. Great patience & good penmanship. I haven’t the patience. It’s a good idea. But writ large or small, brief or long, I’ll love every word of your letters.

                        Nice of Mr. Brash to write. I’ll write to him. A good man. I wrote the other day to Uncle Jack & Lloyd Williams. I’ll gradually write to other people. Glad Muriel telephoned. She’ll be pleased about Dickie. Everyone is pleased about Dickie. Top priority to me.

                        Tommy & Peter have just decided that the very young always sleep facedown with their sterns up in the air. Does Dickie ?  Candy does. I’m very keen to hear how Candy & Dickie get on together. Any news of your child & any news of you will be about water to a thirsty man. Also of village scandal, Gossip & events.

                        We have 2 Chameleons, Freddie & George, they definitely change colour & they have such sweet little hands/feet. We have scorpions, too, not so sweet.

                        Every day now I have hopes of mail. Twill come. And then David will be a happy officer.

                        Washbrooke is charming & so very enthusiastic about caring for me. Lockley has settled down as Waiter,- a caste up. Washbrooke brings me news of his Pamela whenever he gets any mail.

                        Bless you both. I try so hard to imagine the new Rosemary Cottage, with R.J.S.D. as the centre of all activity.
Bless you, dearest heart.