Letter to Ruth Mallory written from Pen y Pass on Monday
Cottie’s party had arrived and he quite liked her husband. They had been to Tryfaen and climbed the Central Buttress, five on the rope - Bertie Graham was stiff and slow and Owen was quite active and promising. Cottie had been the greatest encumbrance to their progress as her muscles were feeble but she had lead a bit towards the top which was better. She would soon recover herself. His boots were a great success and he was feeling fit. Ursula [Nettleship] was expected to arrive that day and Hugh would leave the following day. He had bathed in the lake above the hotel that morning for the first time. He had been reading some interesting essays by Jane Harrison, one was about the prejudices faced by women and what their position ought to be.
Thanks her for sending on his silk socks which he had forgotten. They had a strenuous first day climbing different variations of routes on the South Buttress of Tryfan. He had rescued a lamb and carried it to safety in his rucksack. They had gone to Ogwen for tea as he wanted to persuade Mrs Jones to take the O’Malley party after their week in their current hotel. Hugh was a better walker than he expected but he hadn't got the hang of climbing yet and he was worried he didn't like it. O’Malley was a nice gentle person but wasn't very interesting. Their next objective was Lliwedd but the road had been closed by the military. They were going to invite Lieutenant Fisher (the officer in command) to dinner. The previous night he had sat with a mug of beer by the fire, played picquet with Hugh and read a chapter of The Ambassadors in bed.
Letter to Ruth Mallory, written from Pen y Pass on Tuesday
He had been nailing boots (not his) for an hour and a half. Ursula arrived yesterday afternoon and was happy. She found them all playing cards around a fire in the Shack. Hugh had left that morning and had enjoyed himself. The clouds were clearing and they were planning on climbing to the Parson’s Nose. Ruth’s letter had betrayed her anxiety and it was a mild affair and he was very strong.
Letter to Ruth Mallory written from Pen y Pass [no date]
Had arrived in Pen y Pass but instead of a car there was a little trap to meet them. They were expected but when they arrived the hall was dark as the current had been turned off due to a thunderstorm. They were staying in the lower shack and his bed was too short. Hugh was excited about the prospect of climbing. There was one other guest in the hotel, a man called O’Malley who would climb with them that day. Weather was clearing and they planned to go toward Tryfan. He had been sorry to leave her but was glad to be there.
