July 30

Just back from wonderful "hour" on
Mutrux roof. It is lovely in the morning.

Thank you for letter and puffin-with-fish
that arrived last night. I was really
heart-broken about Perdita's little cat but
I managed to write her this morning, being

casual-like and saying May Sinclair always said
one cat is all-cats, they have a group-soul
and she won't get a new Ab but will find the
same one etc. So forgive card, I will write
to-morrow.

July 29

Lovely day; I have just come from Theatre
oasis where I had wonderful fantasies with
a lion-chow, most beautiful dog and a
ghostly windhund together, they both drank,
like tapestry beasts from the fountain basin!
No special news in; thank you for your last
black-wing gull card. Please greet Rita and
your host of friends- mine too, I hope!
Lovely market and I got more garden-pinks,
they are the best in this heat-spell. There

August I

HILDA ALDINGTON
HÔTEL DE LA PAIX
LAUSANNE

Fido dear,
Just to thank you for all the Augusts you have given me here,
and everywhere, always. I enclose almost comic letter from K -
no hurry to return. I had ring from Bear this morning, I am to meet
him in Paix Cafe at II to-morrow; M will join us later. I did ask
them to lunch but he said M had things to do in Lausanne, and we
would just visit a bit in the Cafe; that certainly suits me
much better. I have written Lambs to come to lunch one day, I
can't do less and I can't do more. I must just hope for the best. They
were due, I believe Geneva, about the 4th. Thank you for last
card "From Ganilly". How well I remember it all,
photographed on my mind ... those rocks, shelves, colour,
sea-pinks, gulls. Also, Cults of Greek States you
got me that we had there, I never quite lived up to it, but
did find limitless treasure from time to time. Please
greet all. I feel very jealous and frustrated when I think you
may go to "Y. without me, then, have a panic superbissimo, at
the thought of the trip and leaving my wonderful den, here.
Flags everywhere; terrific storm in night, but fortunately now,
it is sunny but a bit sultry. I do hope it keeps clear too
the display to-night. I am trying very
badly, so will just close this and more later. I have been happy
patching up one of the first big Cluny squares; how it brings
back Lowndes and the hours there under the lamp. Bless you. I have
been so inexpressably happy with this wool. All thanks a thousand
time again for the thousand threads, the thousand-thousand threads
of association and memory.

Dedication

CAT.

H. ALDINGTON

HÔTEL DE LA PAIX
LAUSANNE
(SUISSE)

Sept. 9 1958
- - -

Fido, Fido, Fido- the ROSES!

There are no words!

I will come, D.V., on the usual train. I suggest, if you do not mind, that we have the "meetin' " in the library, though if inconvenient, I can climb the stairs . I thought it might be better to take the early train back; I suppose it leaves about 2.45? You can tell me.

I feel much better but it was all most odd; I think it must have been partly the 'quake; you know how they always un-nerve me.

I send letters yesterday and enclose a few, via Robert. I have had such funny cards, will bring to-morrow.

Fido, I do bless you. I can not tell you what the ROSES mean to ME me - always and always, and remembering others and chiefly the resurrection roses that came with you to Kusnacht, now just four years ago.

O Fido - Fido!

CAT.

Oct. 6

Hotel de la Paix

Lausanne

Fido dear,

Thank you for all letters, one this morning told of your visit at New Haven. I had one from Pup too, she was so happy and overwhelmed to see you and said John was so touched with all your thought of them, washer layette etc.etc. The time has really gone very quickly. I was upset at first, as I really thought the Bear was going to be ill, but he goes twice a day to the doctor for massage and fitting and I feel he really is beginning to enjoy his "interesting condition." He likes his room, his eiderdown, his radio and goes to station restaurant, he says, for sausages evenings. I see him at 3 for an hour or hour and 1/2 or 2, every day in Cafe Paix. He was very upset about your going, that is why I was upset myself, as I can brood over papers, letters, etc. and have a happy time always alone.

But he rings me at 8 every morning, we exchange news and letters and provided you do take over some time before too long, I think on the whole, it has been rather good for me, too. Now, yesterday, we were both stunned by THE most magnificent flowers. Atleast, I gather his are; the two lots were sent to his room, only one name and in the bouquet that he kept. He had the boy bring the other to me, an enormous bowl of the most beautiful roses, literally, THE most beautiful I have ever seen- that is, for a collection, all colour, buds, sprays. I started to count and counted 50 roses and buds, and any number of tiny buds and some uncounted spray-clusters. I picked out two bunches, one of 9, one of 15 and put them in separate vases and the bowl is still full, with leaves and moss. I felt they might keep better that way, also gave me more space for arranging and cherishing. The little vase on my table at my elbow, has the 9, and several have opened wide, literally while I watched them. The reason is, the sun is blazing in my window. The bowl, I leave in the hall, with door open, as it is darker there and

October 10, Tuesday

Dear Fido,

Thank you so much for ringing yesterday evening. I rang Bear at 8.15, as already pre-arranged over tea, in case I had a message. I told him you said you were not sure where he was and had asked particularly about him etc. etc. I wrote you pretty fully, my last letter, about his state of mind. He does not seem unduly unhappy and thinks he should get back to Kenwin, after tea to-day. I offered to help him pack but he said he had very little. He has already arranged for the maid to meet him at Burier station, to carry his bag. He is very fussy about the idea of lifting anything. He said he would be coming in from time to time, to see the doctor. He seemed to think the doctor very good, except that the initial try-ons of said-same belt, seemed to have chaffed his skin, a great fuss about the "pains", but I wrote you. And I do not think you need be alarmed. As I said, I think it is a great del UNK. Well, please do not hurry over here. If you come Sat., you will want Sunday to re-adjust, I shall not expect you till Tues. or Wed., if better to go over the ground with Bear. I had a most wonderful, psychic letter from K; he felt he was a ghost etc. etc.; I will not mention to Bear probably, though it would cheer him up to realize how K felt about things there. I suppose and hope you will see him. I did write him briefly about his book, not being sure if letter would reach him, but it did. He said he would be writing more of his London impressions to me, when he got back to Capri; he is not, as you probably know, stopping here. I am rather glad of that, what with Bear and all.

No special other news. I am more than delighted about OCTOBER, but am anxious to know who is doing it, when and how. I do long to pick over all this with you, and general publishing news.

I have had no

outstanding letters, except this "psychin" ghost-city
one from K, but I am saving the general news for you, to be
read on train later, after you have started out your own post. I told
you not to forward but that you would like letters from us.

I still have two bundles of the roses and have kept the
moss in the pretty eart-jar. I do thank and bless you, Fido.

It is raining. I have got a stack of calendars, such beautiful ones
at Kaiser. Much better than I usually saw, later in
season. I expect they get snaffled up early, though early October
seems abit soon to begin, I have got quite Xmas-y already.

Miss Voules sent me two more sets of six booklets, and later, I will
do preliminary cards for those and must get some special
envelopes.

This seems a rather pedestrian letter, it is only that I want to get it off at once. I do, do thank you for ringing and I was so very, very relieved to know you were back. Please greet all, various and sundry, as indicated.

I AM so glad that you are back and I do hope that you do not find London too grim. Do please give K my love, I am so glad you are seeing him for surely you are ? Bless you for all of the Valentine news and greetings.

Evan

Your devoted CAT.