Saturday

for Sunday.

( I will give this to the Q to post
via the " blessed sacrement. " )

RIANT CHATEAU
TERRITET
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Sun.

Changed my mind. I
am letting Robert take it, as had

talk again last night ... and Q might

" just happen " to drop this and it might

" just happen to open " and she might" just
happen " to see ...

Fido dear : I have just got your funny little letter
card, so much news , such fun. Do you think we better get a
copy of this dirty Palim ? And how ????_ Did S. and A.
like the Fup ? Did she like them ? I had your wire sent
on, it was signed NOYS. But I knew it meant DOGS. I will
be so interested in all news from London. Mary Butts book
Just arrived. It looks interesting; a little more intellectually
stunted and perhaps not so dope-y, but I have only just glanced a
it, am saving it for Sunday. I stopped in at Watson
to-day. She is asking the old Crabbe and his girl to tea and
me, then in return, I am having them all here. But the plan is
vague, she is trying, however, for Monday. I don't suppose you mind. You
need not see old Crabbe and his girl yourself, later, if you
don't want. It seems so ironical at this late date, but Watson
seemed bent on it. She is very brave, not so wild, but all I
think, poor dear, so brave beside the Q, and really full of
ideas. I gave the Q another treatment. I think she is scared of
me, but its that or getting swamped. She sad, of
course, she was interested in modern things and all that, but

crabbe-ing chez Watson, Monday.

2.
it was really only very middle-class rather strident people
who took them so seriously. Of course, a lady, didn't. "
This I thought was almost THE PLUM. I am
making mental notes of all this, and oddly she keeps me alert
and alive. I haven't been bored one meal, but am glad for tea
alone. Just now, Germaine came in with a tray and a fresh cake,

it looks so nice and my kettle is beginning to simmer. The
outside is beautiful, the garden is a marble
paradise, marble steps and terraces, with peaks of the phallic
little trees, capped with snow. The girls at St. G.'s are
all out on sheets and children " coasting " in the lane. I
went for a short walk after my trip to town, and everything
was paradisial. Very festive. The Q is now
gone on to her Loraine at Vetaux. She emerged in
a velvet hat ( model 1923 ) and a fun coat. I DO
adore her sting about " ladies. "

Red Roses
No special letters or papers to-day. H.D. came from Dori
for KEX, I put it with my books, as I don't want the Q
to read it while I am away. Miss Lewin posted back
Violet Hunt, I will look her up, too, soon. No word from Pa-pa.

Sunday.

I had your letter from London, thank you, a repeat
from the card but all news again of great interest. Now I may
change my plan, as you may be back so soon. At least, I will tell
the Q I may, I will not be here actually for Xmas DAY but I
find from Timmy, he won't let me have my last prick until Dec. 21,
at the very earliest. I had banked on just two pricks. They must
be a week apart but he has shortened it by two days for me,
but he says the second one may be a bit dire. This first one is non-
too pleasant. So I can make the excuse of you coming back, a

RIANT CHATEAU
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reason for NOT going to Venice. This of course, depends on
papa and his letter. Also, Fido, it is deep snow here.
Imagine, Venice. I mean think of going from here in
snow, to some wet terrible cold and dreary sea-scape where
I won't have the proper comforts of "home." However, I
am leaving this on the knees of the Gods, you know that, will
depend entirely on Pa-pa. But I thought if I just
broached it to Q, I would feel safer. I will go either to
hotel in Lausanne for a few days or in Lewin flat, but don't
speak to Lewin PLEASE, as the news from papa may change
Everything, again. But I think of the cold in Venice and
no books and just marking time really for Vienna, and then too,
here, I can work and write and am so busy and happy all day long.
If I do stay, I will make an absolute arrangement with the Q that
I have most of my meals apart, not that I do not want her
and her sister, but I really believe it is going to be better for
me to leave them alone, they will have the dining room and I
will insist on the library. Do not trouble please, to answer
or arrange anything, my dear Fido, as you see, I am entirely
dependant on the letter which may come any time now. I will

post it to you, and you will then see for
yourself what it best. You understand this, don't you ?
It is partly the pricks, I lie here in hot baths ( I could
not in Venice, ) and having the prick reminds me of
illness, and it would be so ghastly to get ill before having this
psychic reunion with old magic DJINN papa-Freud in excelsis.
You see that ? I said all along I was afraid he would die, or I
would die. But don't take me too seriously. I will see how the
land lies and act accordingly. Only, I will make your possible
return the excuse if I DO stay, as that will get round everything.
I have told the Q. that Kex may have work in Vienna and she
immediately realized that would mean you, there, too. So if it
is a bit conjested now, it won't be for long. Anyhow,
damn it, this is my HOME.

The Q is very good-tempered, but an old bore, you know. I simply
left last night, as I said I had to finish the Butts book as
you wanted a literary resume of it. The Butts is good, pure
high-brow melodrama, great fun, with Butts usual very
" magic " pyse poems and earth and seed and sky. Kex will
like it.

Peter prowls round but is good, he purrs like mad when he
sees me. He misses Pup , he says he still thinks she is a
cad. Robert is very good to him.

Love to Kex, I congratulate him and you on the Pabst possibilities.
Even if they don't pan out, it's a triumph.

Love, my very great darlings,
KAT.

Dec. 13.

Tues. morning.

RIANT CHATEA
TERRITET
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Dear Pup,
Peter is a good cat. But he does not
like the snow. He mews all over the
place, very loud mews and echo-y, one
hears him in the upstairs W.C. and it
is so upsetting, when he is shut out.
But Robert is very good with
him. The Peter sleeps in a
basket of straw like a duck now
in the Q's work-room.
He WILL jump on the Q, all
the time, just perversity, to
tease her, like he did Fido
a tea-time. Love and be good,

I don't expect anything to-day, dear Fido, but will be
so glad when detailed news arrives. You are so good about this.
However, don't bother to elaborate, if you ARE dull or if
you are busy, as of course you must be, shopping and so on.

I feel very limp with the prick, somehow, so I am not scrapping
with the Q. I think she would rather I did, than be polite,
but the effort is so great, anyhow she can stew a bit, in
her own juice. I met Crabbe and his girl, he and Miss W. had
a holding-forth contest, and the girl and I sat listening.
He did say, however, you will be glad to know, that he had
threatened Nehans with the police, as he, N., tried to upset,
or nearly upset the Crabbe, in a boat on the lake. The C. was
in a row-boat and N., apparently had a very dangerous
speed-boat, so Crabbe and I relationshiped on that. Crabbe and
his girl come to tea on Fri. Queen went to Lewin
yesterday, to take mags., but of course, Q. dashed in at
tea-time. I told Mouse she would come at 3.30. So Q got tea.
She seemed better natured last night, maybe Mouse put her in
her place or something. I asked the Q why she didn't ask the
rector and his wife, as she liked them

Mouse is due lunch to-morrow, so she can pick her up and take her back.

so much. The Q sniffed, " O, people like that, always take
a month to make up their minds to go out, " so I imagine
she had paranoia about everything, including the immaculate
conception.

Do you know if Psycho-Analysis of the Neurosis, by Helene
Deutsch, is any good? Hogarth have it at 10/6. It is supposed
to be a text-book of sorts on psa practice. Have you it ?
Will you take some or all of your journals and Have lock Ellis to
26 Sloane Street ? You can heap them in the cupboard. I know this
is asking a lot, and maybe, you can't do it, but I never seem to
be able to get at those books, and if I go to London in the spring, it
will be to work and read and get in somewhere. I might as well
be definite about it. Its this drifting that always, in the end,
wrecks one. I read a fascinating account in Journal of
old dame who stunted fortune and patience, very funny, all
worked out on early religious oracle principals. There is a lot
of most amusing stuff in the Journals.

I am amused about the Griff-one. Do you really think you will
get HIM-He ????_

After lunch.

Just a line as the Q is off to Lausanne and will take
this. Funny ... she is ENRAPTURED over Mary Butts book. That
is much, much to the good. Something to talk about. I will
seal this, and any successive letters I give " Jules " to
post ... vous savvey.

Love my dears. I am reading a most fascinating
article by old Stratchey on why we read newspapers in the W.C.

Love all round all,

LETTER

2, Tues.

Dec. 13.

LETTER II.

RIANT CHATEAU
TERRITET
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I am very upset, as I wrote and left letter for the Q to post, and she left it there, on book-case, where arranged, off to Lausanne. Will you PLEASE let me know if any day, you do not get a letter.

This is very important, as I write daily. I have sealed down the sides of letters, as I have some queer feeling that Q might see them. I gave her letters to post, and would not doubt here, only this one was there to-day, after we had discussed her taking it, at naseum, over lunch.

I am horribly upset you are all so ill. I can't tell you how I feel. I am planning NOT to go to Venice unless necessary, at the worst, I will take a room at the Oasis and come back and forth here, for books. I can't really go so far and everything so upset. I don't hear from

Vienna and only trust, the dear old papa is no ill or my immortal opus-es weren't too, too much for his whiskers. ( O damn the Q, I am all unsettled now, for fear you have not been getting letters. )

I enclose movie letter for K., and a queer funeral one for you, I got one too, but suppose one tears it up.

Tell Pup how horribly sorry I am and do feel it is
partly " psychological. " Damn ... I suddenly miss you all
like HELL.

Everyone loves the garden, there is a steam roller now at work
on the drive ... the bulbs are being put in. O, damn, damn,
damn ... let me know please white days you do NOT get letters,
tonight may be late as Robert is off on bike and they may just
miss connection at the Gare. O damn the Queen!

Now

I

am

MAD.

I write every day, remember, and except for today ( on
account of her forgetting ) they ~~always~~ got
out early. Today may be bad, only. Other days SHOULD
have been oak.

Best to Kex, I do wish he would let me know how
his dog-beard is.

Love to you all, and so sorry about Pup, and

worried,

Friday. Dec. 16.

RIANT CHATEAU
TERRITET
SUISSE

Have you heard from or of Cole ?
She never wrote me after I told
her of Freud... she seems deeply
and horribly SUNK!

N.B.
The Queen just brought
these two sunsets.
I 'm// Jan 24,
see it is not necessary.
about to push to the lawyer,
and am posting to the direct

Darling Fido,

Your letters mean everything and I am especially happy about
D.P.T. Perhaps when I go back, my little flat can be
used, too, as a meeting place for the Vienna-Sachs
kontingent. I will write to Sachs about this Sharpe, as
her articles are so VERY delightful and tactful and
perceptive, all the things that Chaddie isn't, and I felt somehow
CHEATED when Chad let me down that way. I will do
everything poss. when I get to London to " get in " with the
proper set and to drag my own with me. You ARE a Nangel
to speak that way of the Capper. I will tell her that you are
interested; she has a good mind, but I don't see how she
can manage much with the tie of the husband; however, she
is straight enough to go a way to " work " if she thought it
indicated; there really is a great deal of un-English
straightness about her, also she has worked during war on
various committees and was a sort of secretary at Geneva, so is
not altogether without qualifications, knows French quite well, too,
I think. All these are assets.

Will you ask K to bring to YOU
anything from Sloane 26, that looks
like it might be a letter or cheque from
U. S. ????_?????????????????_?

Haskards said I have over 2000 litres... and

I have sent Trade and Alice Xmas cards, I
said on Alice-s that I was still

waiting for news
write her!!...

Clarens.

I am terribly interested in all news you give me of Rover and his reactions and of Buddy. I AM so happy, Fido, since finding some very good articles in the Journal. Please leave me all you can at 26 when you leave, you can either lock them in trunk or pile them on top of cupboard, Rover will arrange them, I am sure. I had such a beautiful paw-mark from Rover, I am sending him a note with this, enclosed please find. You are so good about Puss, I am really sorry, though, I am not there to pull her along, but I KNOW you are terribly clever with her, consult D.P.T.T., if you need help or COLE. Cole would, I am sure be kind and helpful with Pup now.

The Q is a yell. I wrote Rvr that I have taken room at Oasis as from Friday next, I will stay 5 or 7 days. Its a nice room and I will just carry on, as usual, with books and typewriter. I am sending your mother a card in an envelope and a plain card inside with written greetings and, as address, I give : Villabasis, Clarens, Montreux. I don't know if that IS the address, you will know its technical address, I will find it out. But I must send your mother something and it shows, anyhow, I am not in London. You can say then, I am spending winter in Austria.

This awful Crabbe this afternoon. The Q has had a " party " everyday this week, and is avid for Timmy and Ramuz, but I have about done enough. She is simply hysterically avid. I will be quite happy to be AWAY from the TWO old bitches for a bit.

The second prick, so far, hasn't been bad. Timmy said he thought as the first was, this would be all right. He was very nice and screamed when I said I was " going away over Christmas " to

Peter is well and scratchy. He still mews at Pups door, tell her. And aloh, say I am writing SOON.

CASH AMERICAN CHASE
they will CASH

Saturday, Dec. 17. Evening.

RIANT CHATEA
TERRITET
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le cart!

Fido dear,

I will write now and post, as usual, to-morrow.
Will you trust me to do ABSOLUTELY the right thing.
The Q now is beginning to sniff, and might even take it into
her mind, to fling herself into bed, and be ill. I will
stay here, if it is humanely possible, and even, if
necessary to the reclame of Kenwin, I will help and even
take part in the festivities. Its pretty damn awful, however,
I consider of the Q. to act up like this. It appears, "Chris
has heard so much about you, and I depended on YOU to
brighten things up for Cris. " She cried over coffee again,
and then had a really vulgar tiff with Jules over a franc :
she said she had given him four, and he said, absolutely, no, it
was three. This started outside the post office, and she went on
with it outside Madame Jeannerets, and I had absolutely to
say to her, " please, Miss Hull. Can't we wait ? I know how
terrible JULES is when it is a question of a few
centimes. "
I got into Madame J. and she is
coming over on Tues. with a half American friend, who has a
chien loup, a bay, who writes, who wants to build a

I did up a Red Roses for Andre G., with
a snarmy, suitable inscription, addressed

I got two glycerine cakes of Uniprix
soap and a huge white bath-one and

Fido, I like them,' I think they are
more suited to the water. All three cost
one franc.

la Corbouissier house. It sounds rather rewarding. Madame J. was sweet, apologized all over the place that she had not arranged to ask you and K. in, but her little dog was so ill. She has the skin of "Bessie" as a little mat, under her desk, it looks like a lamb skin, so funny, and we sobbed over poor Bessie and she asked if she could bring Bessie's successor, Norah on Tues. ? She was enchanting as usual, and said she had long wanted to bring this friend who was so interested in the "modern", and who was friendly but not living with her husband. All sounds most, most, super-bunch, who can it be ???? But anyhow, it adds to the gayety of nations; this dame lives somewhere not very far and has her own car, a very old one that she drives. So, they will be independant, for a change, of Jules. Jules has been good, I suppose thinking of Christmas. The Hull asked him to take her to church to-morrow as she explained, he had next Sunday off.

I did not thwart her, as she is in such a queer state. I think maybe, she is my "Alice." I must have touched something in her ... but really, she must be a little crazy, or she could not go on as she did at lunch time, after I had told her, on several occasions, that very confidently about the "war" and the terrible shock of "things happening" then at Christmas and how my "dear mother" had made so much of the holiday and I wanted to be "alone." I think she is a little mad, Fido. I think she is a good figure-head, I think she chivvies the shiv-s and so on. But I don't think you can keep her forever. ~~Mouse said she was really quite sure she had simply been careless about that money, because she fights all the time, about the simplest things to do with money;~~ this, about Jules, was really most un-necessary and cheap.

the boys are working hard on frames,
and doing it nicely.

RIANT CHATEAU
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I stopped at the press-maker, this afternoon, to order a good square of brown cloth as a " throw " to the ale-cage. We had

a long talk about B. and S.

I like the old/dame so much.

The calls she cut for me are really lovely ...

I will
order Watson
plant on Mon.

I am posting you three " funnies " as Stephen calls these things, each a little " nothing " to open, with a thin candle, done up for sentiment in the usual way. Will you just light the candles for good-luck for a recent and blow them out. I got a box from Aunt Laura and I am keeping all letters and boxes apart for Xmas, whether here or somewhere else. I think, on the whole it is 50-50, even if I have to " mix " in, as after all, if I go away, I will have some sort of bother with moving and so on. Its really fantastic. But please, dear Fido, don't worry. The Hull had a fat letter from you; I judge, its about arrangements for me, she will no doubt hold forth at dinner time. I will hold this open and report; also a package from you and I sent down some papers for her to read over her tea. She kept saying she was so COLD. I suppose she's pretty much of a neurotic wreck. Its funny, how these people always come our way.

Please remember, too, Fido that the Q has been a very great PA-A education for me ...

Sat. after dinner.

4.

I am now damned if the Queen is going to spoil the atmosphere
of Kenwin for me. I arranged to have Xmas dinner with them IF
there was a party. I suggest the Beerbaum&Cotesworth, as
(1) the Cope. is a friend of Miss Lewin and lived in her flat
in the summer and (2) the girl is a sister of that
Mary we knew with Nancy, and so is bunch-literary-art link.

I told the Q flat, I would have all other meals served in
the library and she is livid. She had the nerve to tell me that,
before leaving, Mrs. M. has said " of course Mrs. A. wants to be
with you if your sister comes. " Now I happen to know that is a
lie, and I pinned her down, said I had not meant to hurt her,
but it must be a misunderstanding because Mrs. M. has said in
several of her letters, that it was " understood that of course,
Miss Hull and her sister would NATURALLY want to be alone and
that a separate meal was to be served either upstairs or in
the library. " I said, naturally I saw there must be a
misunderstanding and in those circumstances ( ironically ) I was
so extremely sorry I had said anything to upset her. She is simply
livid. I don't understand. I suppose she visualized presiding at a
table over me and the sister and all the sort of entertaining
onus would fall on ME. Thank you. I am afraid, now I am so
mad, that I will stay here for spite. Now Fido, may I ?????. If
you write, say NOTHING, as from me direct, but imply of
course, Mrs. A. is to have meals as she wishes, ~~that~~ as
always understood, and Mrs. A. is staying chiefly because you,
(Mrs. M.) have been so insistent. A nice beginning for Xmas ?????. But

I confess NOW, I am staying. I will be here, I cancel Oasis.
Unless something transpires to take me on to Venice. The Q is
so livid that it's really funny. Please tell me, darling, that I

RIANT CHATEAU
TERRITET
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have been oak, because you see, dears, I have had
party after party; all described. I suppose its gone to
her lead, if she 'as one. What I can't get over is
the lie direct about you saying it was understood I was
to be with them. Its like with Claire', how she said Marcel
was in her pay. I think everyone looks upon her as
slightly detraque' and to be humoured. Now Fido, I do
feel a little sad, lest I upset the arrangements? Tell me,
its all right. And tell me roughly, what you write her. But
PLEASE, do not let it look as if it
came from me. O glorrrr

rrry

be

eee.

You know I begin to feel quite peppered up. Imagine
OVER one in a school! O Gawd!

Please forgive me.

I am staying.

Hurrrray!!!

Tell Puss how glad I am her three
inconsciousness-es are better and that
Peter was so greedy over his mash when I went in
SO

Sunday morning.

6.

I apologize for the length of this chronicle. I slept
very badly but have a new " pocket " of dream, all stirred up
by Queen and I have made many notes for Freud, so it has really
proved helpful. But after this, now my decision is made, I
shall simply obliterate any effort, smarm, be polite, be
frigidly "aloof in H.D's best manner" ( to quote K ) and stick
to myself. I shall plan an alibi at once, lest there be more
misunderstandings, for Xmas eve. Its funny, but now I am
really rather happy about it. I got some stars for the
tree yesterday, on my own, at Uniprix and they had on a disk in
German, "Stille Nacht." I thought, well this is a " sign,"
Moraylan
they used to sing it ( in German ) when we had the candles
at Bethlehem. It won't hurt me to have the Xmas party, I
will ask Miss Watson, as well. I will occasionally
dine with the 2 'nuls but must keep the control of the
thing entirely in my own hands. I think now, it will work,
beautifully. And I am so happy. I will try to get out and
walk now, more and I am not now, so worried about you and Puss.
I was at first hornbly upset. Now this morning, I had your
two letters and read them in my bath. I feel SO much better.
(sending later)
Enclosed from Greenslet, please destroy. I will rip him what
Sylvia said, as they might as well know, and " take steps "
when poss., for others as well as self. Robert is taking
this. I don't ever give Q now to post, since she forgot that
time. I forward tow letters, from Turtle and from
Curtis Co., as they have five cent stamps.

MUCH

MUCH

much much muchmuuh Looooove to you 3,

last night to say good-night to him, that he
forgot to send his love.

["Sunday after tea.", "N.B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

bureau, and Fido, really, its terrible. It is good for
me, because if I ever did analyze, I would understand women or
girls who had phobias of that sort, hang-over from school. The
depth of ignorance are amazing, and her mind is so lazy. She
either had read nothing, done nothing, with music or drawing,
yet talks constantly still of being " artistic. " I put on
a very obvious Debussey the other night and she said, " ah that
lovely, that so familiar Chopin. "

====================

Now , darling Fido, at the risk of being abore, I must go on about
the Queen. She just this minute tapped at my door and said she prefere
having her dinner served in her room to-night. Did I mind ? I said,
" O, I trust you are not ill. " She said " no " in a sweet-as-treacle
voice and I said," O, it is just as you prefer. Can I help Marthe
with sending the things up ?" I think this : she
realizes she made a mistake, or something, and is now going to be
sticky sweet and moisty treacle. Its interesting, its her defence.
It must be pretty awful for her uc-n to feel as she must do about
me and my independance and position and be caught out like that,
lying absolutely, and a letter from you, right on top of it,
which after all, I wouldn't have had time to " dictate " to you.
She said she was going to her room to " think. " I dare say there
I be another move to-morrow. She has behaved in as crude , as
gross a manner, as Jules did that birthday when he stormed
up to my room. Well.... I do hope this doesn't bore you too
horriblely, but its all by way, between us, of a professional
" case history. " I will add a line in the morning. I am
posting you just a little carnet, darling Fido and a candle.

P.S.
Be very careful how you write Queen, so nothing appears to
come direct from me.

Mon. evening. Dec. 19.

Fido dear,

Your letter just come, I make note of message for Queen. She has gone to have her hair done, a four hour job. I post to-morrow the two envelopes with the note-books, I leave the ends open, as J. says there is trouble otherwise.

I have the ps- a vol., thank you so much, I seized on it like mad, have not been reading lately; yes, isn't Tobacco magnificent ? And a long analysis of a certain M.B. whom I am sure is the Light of the Path woman, who signs herself M.B. Its about a woman who had mystical trances, terribly interesting and helpful. I enclose a card for Chad., I sent her off a card to-day, just greetings, so I don't know that cadeau is necessary : its lovely of you, use your judgment, you can explain I came back to Suisse, if you like, I gave La Tour address. I am interested in the " resolve " of Chadwick, maybe after Vienna, I could talk to her a bit. Evidently, I have to have some old bitch, and the Q. evidently has taken Chaddies place, its necessary, at the moment, I suppose. However, the Q is decently suppressed to-day, sniffles, and grumbles in her usual norm. She said, "how dull Mr. Macpherson became at the end ... not that he was dull... but after all, how much better it is to rub up against people in society. " Or words to that effect. I had told her Kex was having such a good time. Poor old Bitch. Everyone feels the same, for Miss Copeland said ( more or less with a grin ) " poor Miss Chadwick " to-day, when I went in to ask them

to bean-feast on Christmas day. I also called in on Miss W.,
she thanked me volubly for the book, so I will not send her a plant,
how terribly kind of you, darling Fido. You have been so
unterrably good... of course, I realize, my own Fido, that
the Wien is more than a gift, it is a resurrection. I
was too upset to tell you, though I tried. You know how I feel.
Now I am sort of " propitiating " the fates, in hope you may come
back before I go. There is just a chance, I keep telling my
uc-n. I live simply for that. Also I think perhaps Kenwin might as
well be gay over Christmas ... sheep as a lamb business.

The Q has been putting down rugs in Pup's room for her sister.
It seems a desiccation, but I went in and removed the Pup's
typewriter and the old chair, I-footer sits in. I put them in your
room. I shall myself, go over the cupboards, and take Pup's
extra clothes in here, as I have room and would prefer Pup's
clothes in here. I sent Jules in to Oasis, he made it all right,
said another lady might be coming later, as you may want to put
" Cris " there. I am interested in Chad. I think that kind of
hate and spite takes it out of one like any kind of emotion, like
enthusiasm in the opposite direction. I suppose she's just getting
relegned, or does she feel so " bitter " now she has had knocks
from other people. La Sharpe though, shows up Chaddie's
pretence, as she is so tactful and all that Chad pretends to. I will
try to get in touch with her, later. I love all Kex tells me of
the flat, have you been in ???? Do give me news of Buddy.
========

Cold. No special news. I close this now with love to all, as
am leaving it with Robert at dinner-time, so Jules takes it
when marketing to-morrow. Things really do march beautifully.
locale
The cat-house is now, too, in order. More anon,

Wed. evening.

RIANT CHATEA
TERRITET
SUISSE

P. wanted to get me a Xmas gift. I would like a Mackenzie smelling bottle, and to or three LYPSY lip-sticks. They are British and keep lips from breaking. Get several red ones, K. will know colour and a white any chemist, I should think. At I think you too, could do it. white one, or get one for K.'s stocking. K.A.T.

Fido dear : --- --- --- --- I fear I am
developing into a sort of court chronicler for the Queen.
Mouse came to lunch and I got Mouse alone in the library
and she and I simply had hysterics over the Queen's antics.
Now it appears I have done a dreadful thing, asking the
Crabbe's girl here. ( This is private. I told Mouse I would
never quote her ). But she is not introduced to "ladies."
Miss Watson told me that Lady Whoever, the Crabbes sister
called on the girl and the girl called her "aunt", and
it would be right and proper for me to ask her to come to
tea. Lewin says it is all rot, the sister does not KNOW
the girl and there was a bit of dirty work in the colony as
the OTHER girl ( you remember at first, there were two sisters
seen in the marche?) was sent to a hospital here for
appendicitis, had an operation and Crabbe refused to pay. Both
sisters claimed to be fiancée of Major Crabbe. So... I don't
know what to do, except to see them on Friday, say then that
I am leaving, warn the Queen off. Miss L. said she would not
bother me with it, but the Queen was so hysterically anxious

to MEET people that Mouse thought she might eventually
get us all into some party-quarrel. The Mouse very sensibly said,
it didn't matter about US as we did not meet the colony, but
the Queen was making such frantic efforts to " get in ", that
she better know this. Now isn't that pure Watson ????.... I
don't mind the girl, only I am doing it, or did it, for the
really, as she seemed so hysterical some evenings at being
" alone ". O... its a scream. Do you know that coffre
so she couldn't open it,
fort ? Well, she bust the lock, then said the boys were
fooling with it, in her absence. Mouse and I simply died.
Then she went out, left the fly-trap on the table and in
the hall, she dropped her shell glasses and bust the frame. She
came screaming back and Mouse and I agreed afterwards, there
was a pure hysteria, she is determined to
be made " pitiful " the world MUST abuse her, sheer, text book
paranoia. Then we all got off and while she went to
Franzioli to get a new frame, Jules tried to open the
coffre fort, in the bunch of the Queen's keys.
He was chuckling to himself, and said, evidement Madame 'Ull
had tried to open it herself but bust it with the wrong key.
This, the 'Ull on return, hysterical, denied and Mouse and
We got Joli eventually to open it and mend it.
I were black and blue from nudges. Now to-morrow these
Beerbaum-Trees come. I may see them if I don't feel too
sick, but can make the price an excuse... and to-night I will
keep the ball rolling by discussing in court whispers, the
sad case of Major Crabbe. I am a little worried about that...
but as Mouse says I didn't KNOW when I asked them, and they
need never come again. Well... how can I recall it now ?????
But I will work it out, and all will be oak anyhow,
with you and Kenwin, as the sad mis-deed will have been done,
in the " family's regretable absence. "

RIANT CHATEAU
TERRITET
SUISSE

I had to take allonal last night, as I began giggling over the Q and Crabbe and all the terrific jokes and conflicts. I DO want a dog-collar. Please let K read letters when suitable, I don't know why he doesn't send me a post-card ... naughty Rowweeeeer ....

Now I whispered to the Mouse that I might be here,
in hiding, over Christmas, and she was too sweet, she said
she had done it two years, simply said she was away and
stuck in her flat and didn't answer the bell. She thought
the Oasis was excellent as Lotte had been there and there
was a nice atmosphere and I could simply dig myself
in there. She asked me to seize the opportunity of coming to
see her friend up the hill and I said I would it WOULD
be rather fun, after the car gets back and I can sneak off. I
am going to Oasis to-morrow to see what it looks like.
I think you will agree that the Mouse is sensible and she
seemed to think it was right, that I couldn't possibly
stay here with the Will. She apparently had the
same trouble dodging that Vesey woman. She was so
witty and amused and good. So, I will go to Oasis to-morrow
and report.

I keep this till to-morrow, but simply had to tell you of
our day. I am quite weak. The Queen my dear, yes really
a great discovery. Trust Fitho!!!!!! What I have learned!
It's amazing.

Thursday morning.================== Dec. 15.

4

Now two letters come, thank you. I am a little upset about P.,
as I know I could deal with her. I mean its some " stoppage ",
I think, the uc-n ( the books spell it that way ) desire
for a pup. You see how she is with Peter. Peter is really her
little boy. However, darling Fido, I am only so terribly
sorry you have had the trouble, its simply rotten, when poor old
Pup want to be a sort of stop-gap. Yes ... I love Kenwin. I
wake, flying I need not go yet . Papa does not write. I am
making tentative arrangement at Oasis. It will be all right,
as I will say the " family " is away and the servants en
vacance over Xmas, and I just want to be let alone. I
don't think it will " let you down ", put that way. Lewin
seemed to think it was so absolutely RIGHT to go there.

The books came last night. They look very good. I will give them
the 'Ull at lunch - time.

A packet came, which I peeped in, it is red paper and gold
string and seems to be a much desired slepping-wooly. Is it for
ME ? There is no card. It is addressed to me. Or is it one of the
things you said you might send to the skiv-s ????I consider it
" sacred " anyhow, and will keep ( if for me ) and properly " open "
on Xmas. I am sending only cards, my darlings.

Rover said he would find you what I asked for, and you said
you would present him something, then I will find him proper
present in Vienna or Italy, if I go there later. I gave Pup
the stamps, and I am simply broadcasting pro Juventate cards
to everyone in London. I got off about 30 to States, including
a bawdy to Turtle.

I wrote Oppy to thank her for Puppets Parade ( shocking book )
but I said I liked it, had to. I told her to call you up. She
might prove a stop-gap diversion for mama. Her number is : 5983.

I note you found cards, thank you
terribly for seeing about the old ladies
packets. Mouse LOVED Perdita's will...

Dec. 22. Thursday.

Please destroy enclosed from Mouse. Isn't it sweet ? She " gets"
the whole situation so well. I forward something from Mrs. W.
from Berlin. Also a advt. envelope to you. I dove
Turtles letter, I will write him and put note away for you :

BUT

BUT ... listen ...

PAPA has written me, such a dear little note, in sweet
not-perfect ENGLISH ( the darling. ) AND an American
there ( who? ) has taken him as well Palimpsest to read,
and he is keeping the others and has heard of my " achievement."
So .... my tail ...

is wagggggggging itself silly. Can you imagine it ? I can not
( now enclose copy )
send you the letter as I am going to bed with it. I don't
know what to say to Turtle, why should he be bothered to write ?
Papa speaks of his patients and "pupils", and rather
seems to convey that H.D. is among the later. O... Fido...
And, I will then be staying on, as he can't tell me, he says,
exactly, for sure, till about two weeks, WHEN I am to
go, so O, O, O I will probably see you again, and that is
almost as wonderful as the other. And I was sick with
worry yesterday ... no letter from you and Pup sick; now,
a letter from you and a card from Puss, thank her. O... Fido. Tel
K., tell Puss, " tell England. " ( I mean Chaddie. )

Dec. 25. 11.05 A.M.

I have just an hour before the peak begins to
dribble back from church. We will be six at table, as
one of the " church " ladies, got ill at the last; there
are the three from Kenwin here, and the Beerbaum-Copeland three.
I am going down presently to arrange fat red candles and a little
houx on the table. By the way, great news. Last night the big
new table came, and you have no idea how enchanting it looks, and
how it changes that corner of the room, and in fact, the
whole room. Its marvelous, I swanked
terribly about it, to Miss Hull, No. 2. I am absolutely
absolutely right, Fido, when I eat alone; it was that
getting her awful nervous ways mixed up with my food; at the
end, I simply hardly ate at all, refused all second helps,
and never had pudding. It was awful. I think that is why
I could not sleep. Now I wallow in my mash-bowl, and Peter
sits and watches and I prowl about among the books, and last
night, for the first time, in ten days, I slept like a log,
simply.

I had a lovely morning, I had the bundles on my bed. I got
right into the bed-coat (you knew I would) and have put aside
aside Pups blue hk. for special lunch, it will give me
courage. I will of course write her. I had a note book
and chintz hk. case from Hull, so THAT was all right, just
enough, and I will thank her when she returns. I had Buddy's
books and K's lovely owl, in a letter. I write him too, but mention
all these things, in case I am interrupted later, and can't
write with this. I burnt the Moravian candle and
the Corfu and made fish-invocations for us all. You
know of course, how the towllies pleased me, I will need them

terribly nach Wien. I have started another
long letter to papa, and it keeps me in a dope-dream, just to
feel at any moment, I can go back to it. I am so
pleased that I won't be going at once, maybe not till
end/ Jn., it looks. However, I will send you all news. I
am, of course, very upset about your " dada. " I do, do
trust it won't be too upsetting all round. But I feel anyhow,
its a blessing, more and more, that you have Kenwin, far
better to be near him here, if he goes to Vevey or Lausanne,
than to have to go to Paris or London again. Anyhow, I have
always felt that your father was pleased in your choice of a
place, and that, after all, does make such a deep impression
I feel with you all the ties are RIGHT, I think K.
will later feel more harmonious about it, he is apt
to live in compartments, when he is here, he seems " at home ",
but when he gets away I know it all fades out. However,
K. is younger and has had deep eu-n shocks, and I AM so
pleased he likes 26 and is seeing his friend and friends.
Buddy's letters and books were so wonderful, Fido, it
re-endared me to him. I do hope you see him, too, a little
more.

Two books came, E.M. Roberts, Haunted Mirror, and
L. Ehrlich, Gods Angry Man. It looked like Mary Herr, but
there was no card to be found. Mouse sent me a
sweet lily-of-the-Valley pot done up in green, and
your Christmas roses are still going, darling Fido, marvelous,
sort of miracle. I have the Abraham and the other book. I
am just existing till everyone clears out and I can read
them.

Robert dictated enclosed wire last night. I do hope it got to
you!

I am addressing a few letters and Robert is making a special trip to La Tour to take them after lunch. My dears, I resent this Xmas party en bas, but all the same all, so far, has been well, and I will think of you 3.

Yesterday's party was evidently very correct, they all liked your presents.

Love,

and more,

as soon as I get free,

Dec. 26.

Dear Fido,

Miss C. Hull developed a tooth-ache, she has been screaming about the place, she was in hot sleeper and stuck her head out in the cold-dawn. I like C. Hull, she is direct, Lesbian in the Cole manner, of course, lady-like and I imagine not " hep ", but very decent and au font, clever and kind. She is not so pretentious as her sister, and really very decent. I imagine she" gets " something of my nerve-y state, as she herself seems to be walking on eggs, never contradicts Miss H. and treats her, as I now do, as a sort of mild lunacy ease, related to the Romanoffs-Savolas-Hapsburgs-Windsors.

I am sorry she is so miserable, I wonder if it isn't part of us.
We are calling up Timmy. I gave her aliali, last night, but
have not been in, this morning, as I can't really afford the
nerve-strain of bumping into the Q. right after my bath. I want
to get this to you first, anyhow. We had the three here, the
Beerbaum crowd.
I poured red wine and as no one touched
it, I though a " toast " was being waited for, so I said, " I
think you will all agree with me, that this is the moment to
thank out absent host and hostess, Bryher and Kenneth
Mappherson, to drink all health and happiness to them and
their's and the good-fortune to Kenwin. " There were loud
cheers from the guests and I was complimented on my
apt savour-faire and we all got a bit tight. Then as the pudding
was under way, Miss Hull got up and said " NOW I vote we
begin and drink friends absent, a real toast. " I said,
half in joke, " I think, Miss Hull that is the most tactless
remark I ever heard in my life. I flattened myself that my toast
was very pretty and informal and un-selfconscious. " The Beerbaum

spiritual gesture, as, he explained to his
mother, " you see instead of having it safe in bank-notes,
they have lost it. " He then got most expansive over
sherry ( cocktails apparently are a beta noire as he
explained one of his pet pupils had gone to the bad etc.
etc., very chere maitre and how we must preserve all out
faculties for the sake of art. ) O, God, I never was
so tired in my life. I got dinner alone, then went in for
coffee, and went on talking to Miss C. Hull, as she said, " if
only you talk, about anything at all, it keeps my mind off
htis ghastly pain. " ( I think she is as battered by the
Q. as I. ) However, I am rescuing NOBODY,
it is sauve qui peut, with the Q on the crowl, and I want my
strength and power for Wien. The caps were marvelous,
Robert had a tall dunce-cap in chintz colours, I had a
papert helmet, C. Hull, insisted on putting on me, she
calls me Hebe. (!!!!!!!!) I gave one each on
bas, and Robert is saving his for New Year. I never saw such
really attractive and big caps, lovely design. Miss. C. H.
had a Dolly Varden bonnet, she acted up, so like Cole.
But Fido, I long for you, complete with apes, or alone, but
come ... O, my dears, how I miss you. How terribly worn out,
yet released, I do feel.
More later, much, much more.

Thank you for money, Fido, but I will save cheque and
argue when you come. That was my little ( tiny ) love
gesture, now do not take away Sloane, you have been too
generous already .... I AM glad Kex is happy there. Blessings...

2.

and C. Hull both screamed "hear-hear" and the
C. Hull said, "well, you know Dorothy, now wants to make
us all cry." I settled in, waiting for some appropriate
soppy sentiment about the "dear ones", when the Q. in a
bonnet-rouge, out of her cracket, and streaming paper
ribbons(a sort of Tarot "Pope-ess"), rose, lifted
a Morano tiny-cup, filled with brandy, and shouted,

"THE KING." I was never so frightened
in my life. The others stood, and I controlled myself ( this
is for P. and K. please ) sipped a drop and mummured to
myself, "King Sigmund Freud." It
was positively an orgy. I felt I would be murdered by the
Q. She was really terrifying. Well, we got on to coffee,
and only just got them off, when Watson came, with an
interesting woman, Miss Wood, who had taken some
pre-war white Russian princesses. She shouted the Q down over
"royalties," they were just going out, when Peter was
found with back hunched, doing his watch-eat duty by
Kenwin, spitting and sneering at Nora Janerret. Madame and
le C. were not able to get to the door, I rescued Peter,
pretened to scold him but complimented him on his
courage, and in came those. My God, I am tired, Fido, we
talked almost two hours. In the end, le C. began toweep
over Kenneth's table and the walls, he loved the folding
door in library, he apparently is much impressed, but I
Imagine from what he let drop that Henselman had been
spilling dirt. I told a big tale about the trouble you had
had to get the housebuilt as your people wanted K. to go into
the city and had made magnificent offers, but you both
wanted progress and isolation for artistic work. When le C. said
it was noble of you to spend your money on a modern house, a