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Letter from George to Ruth Mallory from France

It was only 10 days until term started and he still hadn’t got his release. When was she moving into the Holt? Was sure he would come in for the move. No move would be complete without him.

She mentioned Mr Brooke several times. Thought he had met him at Brooke Hall and expected him to be quite interesting. Did she see the Head Master’s speech at the Head Master’s conference in which he said they should aim for voluntary Chapel which seemed a very long step for him. Wonders if he had read Clutton-Brock’s book and if so what he thought of it. Thought he would offer to preach in Chapel as it was important to have religious teaching other than official Church teaching.

Thanks her for the parcel of chocolates which were very good. Was sorry about the bad news of Violet’s father’s leg. Was afraid this would not increase the chances of Violet staying with them.

Had prepared his lecture for that afternoon which was on the growth of freedom in England.

Was sorry Clare had been unwell and she was to give her his love and tell her Daddy said she must be gay and happy and not cross.

Asks him how his bank holiday faired. She had finished making a dress. She can't pay the butcher's bill because they have mislaid their accounts. Is expecting Mrs Brock [wife of Arthur Clutton-Brock] to bring Alan and John to tea. Discusses her book of old wives tales and asks him if he has read Wives and Daughters. She is expecting Alison the next Monday and has not heard from Trafford or Doris.

Describes the weather. Tells him she is reading Mr Britling and compares him to Mr Clutton-Brock. Discusses Mr Britling's writing in detail. Expresses her opinion about opening up in relationships. Updates him on her and her father's health.

Expresses her annoyance at the postal service. Tells him about the Brocks coming for tea. Describes her surroundings and wonders what his are like. Updates him on Clare's walking progress and her father's health. Describes a letter from Aunt Patty regarding Doris' new job at the war office and discusses Doris' health. Informs him she has written to his mother. Asks him about the food in France.

Acknowledges his last letters and asks him about his location. Asks him if he has received her letter enclosing one from Mrs Reade. Discusses how Violet is feeling about a second baby. Describes lunch with Mrs Brock and a conversation about Wells and Mr Clutton Brock. Tells him about her conversation with Ursula about his notebook extracts. Informs him his mother is coming to visit.

Acknowledges his last letter and thanks him for the embroidery. Is glad he is now moving. Describes a piece of news Mary Anne told her about celebrations in Berlin regarding the peace with Bulgaria. Tells him about milking the cows with Marjorie and her new coat and skirt. Informs him that she has visited Flossy Carson and updates him on her health and on the unfortunate news that her baby is feared dead. Describes garden plans with Mary Anne. Discusses the progress of the war. Hopes that he has time to write. Tells him about reading a letter from Mr Lytton Strachey. Informs him she is reading about the French Revolution.

Describes her morning feeding the cows with Clare. Describes the children playing and tells him of Clare's love of books. Discusses the progress of the war. Reflects on whether he will get his position at Charterhouse back after the war. Updates him on the visits they have had that week.

Asks him what he would like sent to him and tells him she will send curtains. Tells him that Mr Davey was on the Irish mail boat that was sunk. Discusses the progress of the war. Tells him that her father has a copy of Mr Clutton Brock's new book Studies in Christianity. Updates him on the condition of her father's legs. Expresses her opinion of Grey's speech. Describes a letter from Avie and thanks him for sending her interesting letters.

Discusses the peace terms given by President Wilson. Describes the weather and her plan to go to Church. Tells him about learning poetry to read to Clare. Describes her relationship with Berry. Tells him about the visitors they've had that afternoon. Expresses her opinions about people's attitudes to peace talks. Mentions finishing her book on the French Revolution.

Asks him if he would like enlarged photographs of herself and Clare and tells him about the parcel she is packing for him. Informs him that a former maid of theirs has heard that her husband is a prisoner of war and brings her news of the Spanish Flu in Portsmouth that has taken 150 lives so far. Discusses her father's and Mr Pilcher's ideas of Mr Clutton-Brock's book. Discusses the progress of the war. Tells him she intends to stay in London to visit two Montessori schools and her plans for visiting Doris and the British Library.

Describes helping on a shoot with Mr Raxworthy. Updates him on the progress of making his curtain. Describes a visit to the Brocks and tells him news about the Headmaster and Mrs Fletcher. Discusses the progress of the war. Tells him about making a chocolate cake and the items she will send him. Updates him on her father's health. Tells him that her father and Marjorie have bought a parrot.

Describes her day's activities. Discusses in detail Sir Douglas High's Despatches. Updates him on the progress of his curtains and hopes he will receive them before the Prime Minister's visit. Tells him she is reading History of Our Own Times. Discusses the possibility of peace in the next six months. Tells him about Mary Anne's sister being missing and feared dead in Russia.

Discusses the possibility of peace and the progress of the war. Tells him about her trip to the London Library. Updates him on the progress of his curtain. Describes tea with Bridget, Persis and Miranda. Tells him Jelly might have influenza.

Letter to Ruth Turner, written from Charterhouse School [Ruth was in Ireland with her family]

She must be in another continent at least as he had not yet received a letter from her.

His Form were dong a paper on the First Act of King Lear. He had been to a tennis party and dinner party at the Headmaster's House where Mrs Fletcher [wife of the Headmaster] had referred to Ruth as very pretty. Mrs Fletcher had asked about their arrangements for the future and what colour their rooms would be. Suggests they should be high toned and have an emerald, sapphire or amethyst room; or be romantic and have a room like Monte Cristo’s cave; or like the bottom of the sea; or, should he take Orders and adopt mid Victorian culture?

Had been to a dinner party at Prior’s Field with the Clutton-Brocks. Sets out his plans for the weekend.

Letter to Ruth Turner, written from Charterhouse School [Ruth was in Ireland with her family]

Teases her about misspelling the word 'glacier' [Ruth had dyslexia]. Misses and loves her. Is frightened when she says their life will be perfect together and warns her to expect downs as well as ups but thinks it will turn out at least as good or even better than she imagines.

Would send her a letter from his mother and asks her opinion. He describes the previous day when he had been walking with Hilton Young [Geoffrey Young’s brother]. They had met another Cambridge friend was was now a doctor and a man he knew slightly. His friends were nicer now than when they were at Cambridge. Puts it down to having a job. He lunched with the Clutton-Brocks and played cricket with the boys.

He was behind with work and worried about the Shakespeare papers which he had been correcting - the boys didn’t appreciate Cordelia. They didn't have the necessary emotional experience. He wanted to write an article about Cromwell. Clutton-Brock had given him his book about William Morris which he would read and send on.

He had received a cheque for £100 as a wedding present. It was a serious annoyance to him that she was rich and he was poor.

Letter to Ruth Turner, written from Charterhouse School [Ruth was in Ireland with her family]

It was a wonderful that she loved him and wanted to know him and that his letters had meaning to her.

She mustn’t depend too much on him as he might affect her growth and she his. There must be separate individual growths. He was not perfect and didn't wish to be because it would be very dull. She was so disturbing to his balance that he didn't now whether he was on his head or his heels.

He was reading Clutton-Brock’s book on William Morris whom he admired. Morris was the foundation of all their present revolt against the heritage of Victorian ugliness. He had also read two new sonnets by Keats which expressed exactly his own feeling. That was what the great poets did for us.

Letter to Ruth Turner, written from Charterhouse School [Ruth was in Ireland with her family]

Had finished reading William Morris and was delighted and much moved by it. He associated her family with William Morris and there was a very nice reference to her father’s work in the book. He would send the book on to her. He wanted to look up some of William Morris’s poetry as he knew very little of it.

He had been writing poetry but had to stop and go to the Headmaster’s house [Frank Fletcher]. He couldn't talk seriously to anyone as it was always time for tennis. Tennis was irritating because when he hit the ball hard it always went out.

His last letter was ridiculous which he didn't mind as it was good for her to have someone to laugh with as she appeared to be deliciously solemn at moments. He was much too conceited ever to envy a cricketer. He only envied the poets. He was glad that the sonnet he wrote [See: PP/GM/1/1/1914/2] meant something to her.

The boys were being jolly. He describes Miss Pollock by practising a literary parody of Henry James. He describes a thunderstorm which occurred during the night and was still on his mind as he read the great third act of King Lear to his Form. Explains his interest in Lear and asks her to read some of John Keats’ letters.

Was expecting his friend Lytton Strachey to arrive and stay the night. He was very queer to the world but not to him as they were friends but he must be very irritating to many people. He had a profound respect for his intellect and passion with which he held the doctrine of freedom. His love for him as a man of intense feeling and fine imagination helped him put up with much that he wouldn't tolerate in others.

He had borrowed a copy of Poems by the Way by William Morris from the Clutton-Brocks. He thought they should buy the same edition as a wedding present. He loved what she said about money but he had only been about 1% serious in his previous letter which she would have known if she could have seen him talking. Money was comic and wholly irrelevant to him.

Wonders what wedding presents they might receive. The idea of possessions didn’t interest him unless he had some part in producing a beautiful whole with them. Avie and Harry [his sister and her husband Harry Longridge] had received 300 wedding presents, and his sister Mary would receive more. He had suggested to Mary that she could have all the ones they received that they didn’t want but she had refused the offer so he would have to get her a present.

Updates him on her condition with influenza and tells him Clare might have the beginnings of it too. Relays news about Robert and Nancy Graves. Expresses her opinions about War and Peace and on the character of the German people. Asks him if he has received Mr Clutton-Brock's book. Discusses the progress of the peace talks. Describes the plans she has for the garden at the Holt. Discusses what items from his mess to use at home after the war.

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.

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.

Tells him that Mildred is starting to feel unwell and Alison Steel will not be coming to visit. Discusses demobilisation and when he is likely to come home. Updates him on her father's health. Expresses her opinions on Mr Clutton Brocks' Studies in Christianity. Describes her activities for the day. Expresses her love for him.

Describes the weather. Acknowledges his letter stating he was playing football with Trafford. Tells him about the cat getting stuck in the door. Expresses her worries over not being ready to teach the Montessori classes. Describes her conversations with Mary Anne when she came for tea. Informs him that David Pye is coming to visit. Discusses what servants they will need at the Holt. Expresses her opinions about Mary Anne's Young Wives Fellowship group. Expresses her opinions about how to introduce religion to children.

Describes her previous evening's activities. Describes in detail David Pye's arrival and the troubles he encountered getting there. Updates him on David's news. Informs him that Jelly is coming to play at Charterhouse and expresses her wish to go. Updates him on Clare and Berry's progress. Discusses asking the O'Malley's to move out of the Holt in early January.

Acknowledges his letter telling her he is being moved. Discusses her thoughts on Figaro and the process musicians take to create music for a play. Expresses her disappointment with the second Montessori book. Tells him she will send him Mr Clutton-Brock's book. Expresses her thoughts in detail on the grace of God. Tells him she is sending his flour and asks if his letters will be forwarded to Paris.

Acknowledges his letter describing his journey and discusses the delay with the post. Expresses her happiness that he is enjoying himself and asks if he has seen the King. Describes attending a bazaar at Lady Jardin's house and tells him how Mr Clutton-Brock is looking forward to his return and updates him on news from Mrs Burton-Brown. Expresses her gratitude that he made it through the war without being seriously hurt. Tells him about Mr Powis being back from Germany.

Acknowledges his last letter and is sorry to hear he is feeling lonely. Tells him about Violet's father breaking his leg and the visitors she is expecting. Discusses Mary Anne and Owen's relationship and tells him about an argument they had. Describes how she intends to find a cook for the Holt and what to send in his next parcel. Tells him about completing her Montessori alphabet. Updates him on Clare's progress. Reiterates that Mr Clutton-Brock is eager to see him.

Expresses her longing to have him home. Discusses in detail her thoughts on politics. Describes a conversation between her father and Mr Clutton-Brock. Tells him about the new coats for Clare and Berry. Describes a visit from Uncle Wilmot. Updates him on her morning activities and tells him about Mary Anne not feeling well. Expresses how free he will feel when he is home and working at the school.

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.

Acknowledges his letter and discusses him buying a picture and asking the artist to paint Clare. Reflects on making friends unexpectedly. Expresses her wish to learn French. Describes in detail the Labour meeting about the League of Nations and gives her opinions of it. Updates him on news from Mary and Berry's progress.

Tells him about Clare and Beridge attending a party at the Holt. Describes Violet's reaction to receiving her five pound bonus. Describes making a necklace for Marjorie. Asks him for reading suggestions and expresses what she would like to read. Tells him she would have liked to vote in his place. Asks him where in Calais is he located and expresses her fears of him being assigned another task that will keep him from coming home. Expresses her opinions about party politics. Discusses the nature of their friend's marriages and openness of their lives. Tells him she will always use the baby welfare group for doctor's advice because it is paid for by the rates. Sends him Christmas wishes.