Tripe, twaddle, turpentine, Taradiddle, Tiddlywinks, Tantrum-turveydrop, Tangayika Turniptops, Traklepated-Toshpoddles, Tindle-toes and Taxapations. I quote you. . . “Please don’t think you were wrong, Don’t think you ought not to have married me. . .” I don’t, I never have, I never shall, and the only thing I do think is that you shouldn’t perhaps have tied your glittering self to Poor Old David. But thanks to you, Poor Old David isn’t so poor, not either way.

                        And look you here, your Friday letter has come, about your mother. You’ll have forgotten this by the time this is read that if she gets you rubbed up again, and causes any trouble or unhappiness to you, right or wrong, I mean even if she were to be right, away she goes. I like her, she likes me, I’m glad to give her sanctuary, lost soul that she is. But for me your happiness is utterly predominant in everything wherein I have a hand. And in spite of your pleadings, in spite of the horror of your family, inspite of whatever may happen to her, if she causes you unhappiness she gets a firm order to quit from me and one I’ll mean. One has to take the main course and from my detached point of view up here I can see main issues. Your happiness is all that matters to me. If your Mother’s temperament causes you unhappiness, and cancels the blessings of a home of your own, then away she goes. It’s up to her.  Is that definite. I know how it is, I’ve observed her with you for a long time, way back to the Oakfield Road days. It’s affection twisted because of her own psychological distortion, and it can be cruel for you. I thought in your home, as our guest- the Grocer’s Bill is surely not a full compensation ?- she would be different. But if not, then. That is a solution . . . .And it will be for your own good. I’ll tell her so if necessary, and meaning it. Poor Darling.

                        And if she talks of money in this business, which is silly, we can pay her back in full and cancel all obligation, during the next 12 months. So that, wife mine, is that. I’m deadly serious, too. I writhe the when I hear of you being subtly tortured.

                        Phoof ! I’ll heal you when you come up next Saturday, SEVEN DAYS.

A cheque from Capes this morning for fifteen pounds “with Mr. Capes personal good wishes”. I wrote for a sub, but of course, as the thrill is orders, there’s no money to come, so they wrote explaining that. But at the bottom Miss Jerbert said, “I showed your letter to Mr. Cape and he said “send him fifteen pounds with my good wishes”. I pay it to the Victoria Hotel tomorrow evening in advance and there’s your home in Scarborough for Christmas. O.K. ? That’s enough for twenty days, or fourteen if I spend six of them here as well. Hoity toity Cats-a-jumping!

                        Now about other money. I hope to have a fiver for you here, that will be your Christmas money. Can you raise the money for          (a) Klaus-fair

                                                                                    (b) your ticket and travel ?

                                                                                    (c) Squaring accounts to date ?

I can raise some more money if needs be, a loan of a tenner until May 1st would be easy and above board. Miss Herbert says “Doubtless your high hopes, now dashed, will be justified before very long as the book will certainly sell well this Christmas. So forget little money worries. And if your Mother talks “money” and pleads ingratitude say that David will pay off everything she considers to be owing if she doesn’t look out. Money is still a blessing for us, it’s only delayed from Christmas. But we can still sprawl at the Victoria, we have had some luck with a novel published by Capes. Clear ?

                        I hoped this letter I had would mention the chunk of novel, but obviously it hasn’t arrived yet. I’ll hear later. I could write this evening but I’m tempted to go out, alone if possible – I have dodged Eric W. twice already this afternoon – to see “Freedom Radio“. And a meal, too.

                        A Lovely parcel, you dear thing, all those cigarettes and the gloves on the cards, and your letter about the Home Guard Social. (Pause to sell two dozen cards, the fund grows in the tin box)

                        Christmas card list herewith. Add to it, and I’ll keep our R.A. cards for all these people. My query three addresses, do you know them ? Arrange for our post we send on by Mrs. Edwards, I’d love our few cards on the Victoria mantelpiece. Tell your mother NOT to make cracks about you coming to a hotel with me. She might remember that we have been separated rather abruptly and that we share and affection she can’t appreciate or understand. And that is our business and if she wants to stay at Great Alne she can. Pshaw. Berumphalingo !

                        So long as that bear stays at your feet, all will be well. But mark my words, he will hang by the neck. Will he dare to come to Scarborough ?

                        I shall sell some books for Christmas to help the family finances. But with the hotel bill paid and some petty cash we’ll be orl right.
Proust is DELICIOUS.

                        Nice to have our room reserved and paid for. Incandescentarious.

                        Strange are the uses of adversity.

                        I’ve two books coming for you, one for Marjorie and one for the Tisdale, that right ?

                        Bring some books for us to read in duet, won’t you. Was that piece of book all right ? Was it ? I wonder.

                        No word from the Pavilion, so Victoria shall have the full benefit of our custom and like it. Poor Pavilion, little does it know what it is missing in your absence.

                        Your manage the women all right. We’ll get some chairs in our room somehow and make that F/H/Q (Family Head Quarters). And an Englishman’s Hotel Bedroom is his castle.

                        We’ll walk a bit. Some evenings I may be on duty and can’t come out. That’ll be dreadful, but I’ll send a substitute. (Substitute to certain limits only. Is that clear. Yaraboodle-day.

                        Now I’ll paddle off the first house and maybe get back early enough to write a little. I’ve some notes to do too. I must keep up-to-date and be a good boy and come out high in class, now that I’m a prefect.

                        Dear you and dear everyone. Stupid mother you’ve got, so nice really with just that great weakness of lack of control and persecution hallucinations. She has no one to persecute, poor dear so you have to suffer. Bless the fowls, too. Do they still do anything in the gg (e) line ? Can uncle Jack suggest what to do about making their run less MUDDY ? If you asked him he might tell Harry or you could tell Harry. Or I could.

                        Bless you dearest, be happy. And soon I’ll see that you are. Are dates definite ? But what’s it matter, it’s seeing you and laughing with at by from and through you that I want, and you’re scent and delicious nose-angle and presence and voice. Tomorrow I telephone you, yes I do, and then not for a long time.