Sainte-Claire le Chateau

HYERES

(Var)

March 11th, 1937

Dearest Beatrix,

Merry Christmas! I must return the "vow" of the
wonderful grape-fruit which walked in a week or ten days ago
with their Christmas card in their hand, and on whose juicy interiors
we are still feasting. Perhaps, as you suggested, the juice does
not flow as abundantly as usual, but the fruit has come in better
condition than ever before, and is still so superior to the North
African product that all my visitors have been licking their chops.

I was delighted to get your good letter of ten days
ago, as well as that of Feb. 26th, just received. The day your
former letter came I also had one from Adele Tobin telling me of
their delightful lunch with you, and giving me a cheering report
of your appearance. She thought you looked much better than when
she had last seen you, and that you seemed rested and happy. So
much the better, and a good mark for Max.

Yes, Adele is getting her Indian summer now; I suppose
it is never too late to profit by such chances, but it is too bad
that she has had such a stormy and seismic debut in Californian
life. According to the papers there was a big shake-up in San
Francisco the other day, and with the memory of the last one I
suppose people are still made nervous by any recurrence.

I have been in bed for the last four or five days
with a tiresome flu. No piqures seem to protect me from this dread
disease, but I certainly have it more mildly since I have taken
preventive measures. It is a blow, however, to be kept in the house
at this moment, for we have had some rains lately (they were despera-
tely needed), and the garden is now bustling along in an exciting way.
My three little Ramona roses seem to like the soil very much, which
their sisters do not as a rule. The one I planted last year has
flowered over every inch of its wood, and those put out two or three
months ago are trying to keep up with it. By the way, have you seen
a single red climbing rose called "Crimson Conquest", which I have
seen illustrated in "Good Gardening"? It looks very interesting and
much prettier than "Blaze", which is really too much like Paul's
"Scarlet Pillar". I can hardly wait to get back to St-Brice and see
all the rare roses that I planted last year, but unluckily the season
has been so bad, and the ground is so saturated with wet, that I fear

Sainte-Claire le Château

HYERES

(Var)

- 2 -

I shall not have a good show next summer. What fun, though, to think that you and I will be fussing over the garden together!

And now I must confess a stupid accident. When your long letter came, asking if I would like some Californian irises, I was just beginning my flu, and in a moment of frenzy devoted to clearing off my desk, I must have torn up your letter by mistake, for neither Anne Friderich nor I have been able to find it. I have therefore lost the list of irises that you suggested, and can only humbly ask you to have a replica typed for me, so that I can answer your questions intelligently. "William Mohr" seems, unhappily, to have disappeared again; I am afraid I cannot induce him to remain with me. "Persian Princess", which is almost the most beautiful of all, has barely survived; only one plant, I think. Some of the others do splendidly and are increasing fast; but the more delicate ones are evidently not happy here, and the absence of Californian irises in English and French catalogues leads me to conclude that they prefer their native soil. "Fulva" bloomed with me beautifully, but her leaves were yellowish, owing, evidently, to the fact that she was in too sunny a position. I am going to transplant her this year to one of my rare shady corners; I wish there were more of them, for I am very successful with Clivias, and when I take them out of their shelter I have great difficulty in finding a few yards of shade to put them in.

Oh, what fun it is to think that we are going to talk over all these things so soon! I only wish Max would come with you, but I know that he is not to be persuaded, and probably, knowing him to be happier in the other hemisphere, you would rather he remained there.

I simply revelled in "Margery Kempe", and I am surprised that I left any doubt in your mind on this subject. The book seems to me such a curious "pendant" to "Around the World in Eleven Years" for it has the same childish simplicity, and awakens laughter of almost the same quality. They are two of the best books I have come across in a long while.

Next time I hope to write with my own hand when I have got back a little strength. The convalescence of this poisonous flu is so much worse than the acute stage.