Discusses the progress of peace talks. Hopes to get another letter from him. Describes a walk with Clare. Discusses economising on light and what books to read in a short space of time. Updates him on news from Alison. Expresses her father's opinions about the Austrian Emperor's proclamation. Expresses her worry that she has not had a letter from him and hopes the O'Malley's will leave the Holt soon. Asks if he can send the drawings back of the plan for the Winchester Memorial. Discusses living at the Holt by herself with Violet and one other servant.
Describes her activities of the previous day. Informs him that Marjorie Waterhouse, Doris, and Olive Smedley are staying for the weekend. Tells him about Hugh Wilson’s brother being wounded. Describes visiting Priors Field with Doris and Helen. Updates him on Clare’s progress. Describes Marjorie Waterhouse’s work at the hospital. Expresses her love for him.
Describes the garden and compares her surroundings to his in France. Tells him she misses him. Expresses her worry about what life might be like after the war and talks of how things should change for the better. Tells him how Violet is ashamed of her tanned skin on return from her holiday. Describes her intended activities; painting china, going to golf with her father. Describes to him Bob’s ill feelings towards his requests for parcels and his opinion of his regiment as a tiresome and difficult one.
Discusses the progress of peace talks. Describes having Mr Pilsbury and a young boy round for tea and how they played with Clare. Expresses her opinions of the benefits of Clare playing with older children. Tells him she has got influenza and is in bed reading War and Peace.
Hopes he had a nice Christmas and tells him what she received from Marjorie, Mildred, Bob [Major Robert Morgan, husband of Ruth sister Mildred], and her father. She has not gone to church due to feeling unwell. Discusses her book The Meaning of Good. Explains that the house is busy so she will seek quiet in the nursery with the baby. Asks for the Pen y Pass address.
Reflects on when he might get leave. Describes a visit to the William's house. Expresses her wish for Clare to start talking. Describes a funny moment between Clare and Violet. Discusses her opinions on The Times article about the Education Bill. Describes her plans for the Baby Welfare group, focusing on pre-natal care. Expresses her thoughts on military service. Sends him her love.
Evening - Informs him that Mary Anne has influenza and she is taking care of Diana. Tells him about having Car and Mr Reade for dinner.
Morning - Describes her night with Diana. Reflects on her feeling for Mr Reade. Tells him she is requesting help from Mrs Steel with Diana and Lilly while everyone is ill. Updates him on Mary Anne's health. Expresses her desire to help the O'Malley's financially. Is glad that she came to London.
My Dear George I am writing this first thing on Tuesday morning & I am going up the village to try & get it off by the first post. Marjorie has written asking us to alter our day of returning if possible because of Father's fishing, so if Aunt Rosamond can have us on Wednesday we shall come home then. I don't think either of us will mind one day less. The weather looks a bit better today I think we shall have sun on & off. Yesterday we left the BBs about six & reversed the walk we did on Saturday evening with them. It was misty & quite grey & very very beautiful walking along the wide wet sands with nothing but sand & sky to look at. One felt so far away from every thing and so much just a little bit of it all. I do like to feel like that. There's the sea the trees the flowers the birds & to feel just one of them instead of a person apart as one does in houses that is good. I can feel more part of the spring and of it all than I have ever felt before because I'm doing what its all doing & making more. I must go on with this letter any longer or Im[sic] afraid shall miss the post. I hope I haven't.
Describes in detail the events of Clare’s birthday. Describes trying to start an electric engine with her father. Tells him how she has boxed his cake to send to him. Describes in detail her visits by Mr Green, and Mrs Musson. Thanks him for his letter to Clare. Acknowledges his previous letter about being shelled and the problem with rats and mice. Discusses the progress of the war. Tells him about her father getting hurt falling from a tree.
Describes in detail her tea party at Prior fields with Dorothea Fox. Informs him that it it Clare's birthday and updates him on her progress. Describes in detail Mr Fanshawe's sermon about helping immoral neighbours and discusses her thoughts on it. Expresses her happiness for the day and her love for him. Tells him she has sent is cake.
Describes in detail the conversation she had with Mary Anne about the teaching of young children. Informs him that she has been in touch with the Secretary of the Montessori Society regarding the apparatus. Discusses plans for moving into the Holt after he is demobilised. Tells him about the apples and other items she has sent him. Updates him on her father's health. Tells him about the O'Malley's plans to move closer to London. Discusses the progress of the war.
Updates him on how she is feeling and suspects there is a bug going through the house. Expresses her wish for the end of the war. Describes Clare’s symptoms and her progress. Expresses her opinions about generosity. Describes hearing a military band in London. Discusses Boswell’s book. Tells him she loves him.
Updates him on Clare’s illness. Describes the Arts and Crafts Exhibition she attended with her father. Expresses in what ways she misses him. Asks him about his upcoming trip to Amiens. Tells him she is feeling unwell and describes her symptoms.
Expresses her feelings on their relationship. Discusses the Little Book of Essays by Stephenson. Expresses her opinions about jealousy in marriage. She has had a letter from Robert Graves and discusses its contents. Gives her opinion about deep thinking and encourages him to keep writing. Describes her morning activities. Discusses sending him apples and vegetables. Tells him about how busy she is and that she will send him a ginger cake. Discusses her father’s article on planning gardens. Assures him she won’t allow him to become lazy. Updates him on Clare’s progress.
Discusses the progress of the war and tells him about soldiers being given rum so that they can attack whilst drunk. Tells him she thinks Clare will grow up to be a dentist. Describes gardening at the Holt. Expresses her problems with depression. Tells him about her plans for the garden. Describes a disagreement between her father, Mr Benson, Mr Cockerell and Mr Gimson regarding chairs for the Senate House as part of the S.P.A.B.
Praises the quick postal service and hopes he is having a nice time with his father, despite the bad weather. Expresses her wish to be there. Encourages him to stay longer and look for a present for Marjorie’s birthday. Tells him of her morning activities; having her hair washed and china painting. Asks about the date for Trafford’s wedding. Discusses how they intend to educate their children. Tells him her father, Mildred and Major Morgan have gone fishing at Eut
Acknowledges and discusses the contents of his last letter. Tells him about the photographs that have come back. Updates him on her father's health. Expresses her love for him.
Discusses the longevity of the war. Describes a conversation with Marjorie Waterhouse about the morale of the Germans. Updates him on Clare’s progress and informs him on the pay rise for Violet. Describes the trouble they have had with the electric lighting. Describes Clare’s temper.
Discusses the progress of peace negotiations and their life at the Holt after the war. Expresses her opinions about War and Peace. Tells him she is reading the second book by Madame Montessori about education for children aged 7 - 10 years old, and that she has not got round to reading Mr Clutton-Brocks book. Informs him that Violet may leave them to go back to her parents after the war. Expresses her opinion about finding servants after the war. Discusses a conversation she had with Mr Raxworthy about the German Navy.
Discusses the contents of his last letter and asks him questions about his dug out. Describes the flowers in her bedroom and the coming of spring. Updates him on her and her father's health. Describes a conversation her father had with Mr Williams. Discusses the progress of the war. Tells him she is reading Quentin Durward.
Updates him on her father's health and tells him about Clare's play date with Mary Smart. Describes reading a book by Stephen Tallent. Tells him how much she loves him and wants him home. Expresses her opinions on Johnstone's book about Napoleon. Discusses flooring for the Holt. Updates him with news of Doris's baby.
Discusses the progress of the peace negotiations. Tells him about a meeting with Mrs Trew being cancelled. Describes Clare's progress with the Montessori apparatus. Updates him on the visitors they are expecting for the weekend. Reassures him she is recovered from influenza and that the children are free of it. Tells him she has not heard from Jelly who has been ill with influenza. Asks him if he intends to see Trafford straight after the war. Describes her father's feelings about her Montessori classes and discusses continuing them at the Holt.
Describes the weather. Acknowledges his last letter and thanks him for writing so many. Asks him about his surroundings. Describes playing with Clare. Updates him on Ursula's sisters' health. Updates him on her health. Describes getting coal to Mrs Farr. Expresses her opinions on the governments potato growing plan.
Acknowledges his letter of the 3rd February. Discusses her father's opinions about the progress of the war. Expresses her sorrow on hearing of the death of one of his officers. Describes a conversation with Marjorie. Asks him how is feeling back at the battery. Hopes that she will soon be able to get out of bed.
Tells him she did not go to church and that her mind is occupied with finding servants. Reflects on what their life will look like at the Holt. Informs him of her intention to hear Mr Clutton-Brock speaking for Labour and her plans to stay in London for a few nights. Tells him she is feeling tired and updates him on her father's health. Describes how Clare has been pretending he is home.
Informs him that Robert Graves has been wounded and she intends to ask him to visit. Tells him that Ralph is to get leave and will go to Birkenhead with Mary. Describes her intended activities for the day. Asks him if he would like some apples to be sent out. Expresses her love for him. Intends to go to Alborough to find lodgings and will start at 8.30 and not get back until after 9.. Updates him on her father's trouble with male staff. Intends to have tea with Mrs Kendell.
Informs him of Mildred's engagement to Major Morgan and hopes that the right decision has been made. Discusses the future between Major Morgan and her father. Hopes that Major Morgan will be kept safe in the war. Tells him of her sleepless nights and hopes he will return soon.
Friday 8 Dec. evening - Describes in detail the meeting with Mrs Brock. Discusses her opinions on the love of God in their lives. Expresses her thoughts on wanting to be a nicer person and being easier to live with. Discusses the friendship dynamics in the women's group. Expresses her feelings about being depressed and trying to appear cheerful.
Saturday 9 Dec. morning - Tells him about going to the Holt to find the books he wanted and the items she is sending him. Informs him that Olive Smedley and Rachel Dixon are coming to stay. Tells him about Mildred's toes and that the Greens are going home for Christmas.
Describes in detail the garden at the Holt and her plans for it. Tells him about her plans to meet Mrs Heanni. Describes Clare playing with her father. Discusses an article about Ireland from the Round Table. Tells him she has received his letters. Describes Clare’s appearance. Discusses the differences in their sense of humour. Tells him she hopes he can have debated on religion with her father in the future. Describes her father’s opinion about Mr Clutton-Brock’s book The Ultimate Belief.
Updates him on all their health and recovery from influenza. Discusses her plans for the Montessori classes. Expresses her opinions on how and when to teach Clare about religion. Discusses the progress of the peace talks and tells him about her days activities.
