22nd Jan, 1900.

My dear Dorothy.

How very nice of you to write to
me. I saw Madeleine this morning riding;
it was my second ride in about 6 months
in London, and I gave her your message.
I saw a little less of her than I should
like, for when I was riding, up came Mr
George Alexander and he
discoursed her for some time, and when
he left I had to come away to office
where I had to be at 10-30, or rather I

bring myself to arrive there at that time.

I suggest to you for your consideration that you should not undertake any expense in either hiring cottages or adapting them, at present, until we see how many soldiers are likely to want to go to Convalescent Homes. We asked a lot of them in Netley hospital, and with the exception of say 2 out of about 100, the men said that if they were well enough to be out of hospital they would prefer to go home. If the managers will keep the men without charging them anything I daresay this feeling would not last, in-

asmuch as the men get 9d a day from Government for their subsistence, and of course it would cost them more than this to live at home. Nevertheless I feel certain that it is not desirable at present to encourage expense; I have spoken to Lord Lansdowne on the subject of putting out a notice to the public.

Will you tell your hostess, with my respectful regards, - although between ourselves I am afraid she does not like me as much as I like her - that I think Major Little is pretty sure to get the command of the 9th Lancers. Anyhow I mean to vote for him at the next Army Board.

I

I feel quite sorry that you have not got Lady Helen with you; if she is not like "Phyllis my only joy" yet I think she is one of the most charming of young women, although I know her very slightly.

It is very good of you to concern yourself about my own ailments. I was in pain for a long time yesterday in spite of my having taken two holidays, Friday and Saturday.

I saw Mum and the President this evening, and they are both very bright and well, but to my great regret they go away on Thursday to Folkestone.

Good bye, and believe me to be,

Yours affectionately

WAR OFFICE.
LONDON.S.W.

7th March, 1900.

My dear Dorothy.

I am told that you are nearly al-
right again, and this gives me more
pleasure than I can tell you. I admire
immensely the courage you have shown
while you have been unwell, and it is
an hourly satisfaction to me to think
that your eye is now getting alright.

I believe you two ladies, with all
your remarkable qualities, have never
read Pickwick. I am thinking of a remark

11th May, 1900.

My dear Dorothy.

Thank you very much for your most
charming letter of the 9th. I quite
understand, and indeed only proposed
myself on the off chance, when I was
pressed by your friend Mr Herbert Praed.
Let us put it off a bit, and what say you,
would you like to take me from the Satur
day to the Monday late in June, say the
23rd. Will that suit you? It is a long
way on, still perhaps it is as well to
look ahead because you are as Surtees

WAR OFFICE

LONDON S.W.

28th June, 1900.

My dear Dorothy.

I have allowed 4 days to pass
without answering your kind letter of
the 23rd, but I had to communicate with
two people to see whether I could get
off engagements.

Thank you very much for the offer
for the 7th, but I am engaged that
Saturday - Monday to friends at Brighton.

I should like please to stick to your
original kind offer for the 21st, and

War Office,

London, S.W.

10th.July 1900.

My Dear Dorothy,

With reference to your letter of the
13th.March, I have the pleasure to inform you
that the Fishmongers have given 10 Votes to
Mary Williams in whom you are interested.

"I give thee all I can, no more, though poor
the offering be."

War Office,

London, S.W.

30th.March 1901.

My Dear Dorothy,

I am very sorry that I cannot procure for you a letter for an in-patient for the Brompton Hospital for Consumption. The Fishmongers have none left and do not get a fresh supply until some time in June. I think "the cow has been milked quite dry".

Yours sincerely,

Mrs.Henry Allhusen,
40 Grosvenor Gardens, S.W.

8th June, 1901.

My dear Dorothy.

I greatly enjoyed my glimpse of
you yesterday. May I come down to
dine and sleep on Thursday the 13th?
If you prefer that I should dine only,
I can easily come back by the 10-5 or
10-32 after dinner. I think, if I stop
over night I will ask your butler to
give me an early breakfast, and will
cycle up to London, if it is fine, as
this will mean getting some exercise.