Dearest  :    Two magnificent letters, yesterday and today,  the first written in between my family’s birthdays and the  second the day Jedd and Press came and full of fun, news  of the  son, and of the birthday.    The feste sounded to have been in excellent taste, – sherry and petits fours and cake,  and what choice guests, Christopher  and Uncle  Jack, Marjorie and Co.    And he sleeping outside in the fresh air.    Furthermore,  Fitz called with an envelope with a note  and a ten bob in it.  Good,  He does  sound nice.  But what  ideas  to put  in Richard’s  head,  the need for  a sister.  All right by me,  and I like little girls,  I have three at the Rinaldi’s, Miria a born flirt at seven, curley hair, dark, with wicked eyes and a way with her, Juliana at a quarter past five,  intellectual and narrow faced with large eyes,  deft   and quiet  and Nelli,  at four, who is the prettiest  of them all and is affectionate but given to biting your finger with teeth which are as sharp as they are white.  So I’d like one of yours,  and it would be good for Dickie-bird to be  a doubleton,  but I shan’t half  be fussy about boy friends.  You will have had that bracelet for her by now.   I  say yes. But poor you,  I don’t  know. You women are rather wonderful,  I’d be yellow. The result,  by accounts,  right  or wrong,  seem marvellous,  I agree,  but. . . Still,  if Fitz and Dickie make up their  minds,  I agree.

                        And don’t go saying things  like you did say about the Edkins not disapproving of us having  Shelfield House.  When first I saw it I loved it,   and the scenary around.         For  a few years  one  could close  the top floor, but there is a superb little back sitting room for study or otherwise, and the garden is heavenly.  There  is  the  farm, too, for the children to see animals in. We could have a few of our own even. And fresh milk from Norman.    And we’d be so careful.  Freddie likes the  idea, he’d help with the animals as well as buttle and cook and valet and nursemaid and play the  gramophone.   And he’s got  such a fine collectiontof records he’d be an asset anyhow.  Its a dream idea, but .  .  . costera molti denari ! I must write some selling books and then settle down. The hills and lanes there are delicious.   Oh dear.  Oh DEAR,  But its nice to know  that the Edkins would approve,  I should think they would, of you!  I do, whole-heartedly.  My word yes.  Oh dear.

                        Marjorie’s present to Dickie-bird is charming,  and typical of that nice lady,    charm combined with realism, -and that goes for our Christopher too,    I can see us wondering whether to blew it  on school,  save it for Cambridge or make the most  of it for the wedding.  But isn’t a wedding the woman’s affair ?    But I suppose he’ll want a Staples,    I shall give him that,  then they’ll remember me, even if,  like  our  sapper’s,  “Pa’s just old and miserable,”  Old and Miserable  !  Pah.   Oh !

                        I’m so glad you liked the  show, Richard 2 is terrific,  he’s got something trapped in that  play that  is most touching.  Cycling in, and again and some plain Jane of a woman in your brogues she’d bought,  oh dear. And I like the idea of Fred and Dickie-bird cutting the lawn.  Any comments on the new move  idea  ?  It’s a thing that will take  time to bring  about.  Talking of your Mama,  she will go and stay someplace with someone won’t

she when I do come home.  We’ll clear the street I think,  requisition it and turn the civilians out,   I know the drill for that.    Any other person in sight would exasperate me greatly.

                        Possible personal moves are afoot here among us officers, Allan or me,  but may come to nowt,  I am torn between being well off where I am or going away for betterment. Tricky.   I’ve left it to Antonio  (santo)

                        I’m sweating away at  Bertha’s play “STAND AND DELIVER”  Its shaped and is being finally letter-carded,  but  I’m groping because  it lacks  something,  yet. Its got action and atmosphere and story but its not right yet.  She cabled yesterday “Do Hurry”.  So I coop myself up in the Rinaldi farm and sweat,  it’ll be there in time  and it will be all right. My hand has lost much of its cunning,  its differat here. But she’s a good sort and makes our play the centre-piece  of her prograamme each year.   We must not fail her, nor shall we.

                        A visiting  Colonel taught me Backgammon and now its a Disease here. I take fifty lira a game off  Peter with embarrassing regularity. Its a very good game. Watch out for a good second hand board, nice polished  inlaid wood,  and we’ll play. We’ll play in our prime and age.  Its got the atmosphere  of piquet and the variety of chess.  And its feels nice.

Silly craze.  Had a rain storm last night and only a very little seeped through my tent into my hole.

                         What do people think of the picture generally,  I mean Christopher and Uncle Fred and Jess and such like.  Some will not approve  somehow, think it unnecessary or not photographic enough.  I feel sure connoisseurs will apprecuate it.  I’d like J.G.L.’s opinions.

                        Freddie will want a wife at Shelfield ?   Your department,  Someone domestic who is willing to share the ups and downs  of a good life with us in our menage. He’ll be happy,  and permanent.    Give him an orderly house, clean silver, good manners, human treatment and some music and Freddie will be happy.   We can’t offer a Drayton House atmosphere but we can offer him what industry and trade cannot.  He’ll appreciate Candy and worship you. All my love, dear one . . ever . . .