Feb. 15.

Dear Viola,

Just a line to thank you for various papers that have arrived. The VOGUE looks to be resplendant ... it sounds more like my idea of the Argentine than N.Y. - I think there is a great luxury drive in USA, due to Paris goods etc. coming back on the market. Perdita is being urged by her boss to go to Paris but I don't think she is that keen on it. Another boss wants her to stay in London, as apparently there are very few who know French AND German as she does; I must say it has been a blessing, as you know all women from 18 to 30 here are war-workers. I am over-age but had some training in Vienna in psycho-analysis and have kept that in reserve, but have not been called on and Br who is just on the "cusp" has had her work in the office. It has been very hard for some women with children and homes and no domestic help or very little, to have fire-watching and so on, on the side or very much on the TOP of them.

It is amazing what people have stood- if only the whole thing would end. Churchill comes out in a Russian fur-cap; one paper wrote, "some men are born great, some have greatness thrust upon them and prime some wear funny hats. Our Prime-minister combines all three."

I have heard nothing directly or indirectly of old E. I want you to know that those Astrology books you sent me have simply been more-than-heaven and balm to me. I have a friend, a lady-doctor, who is quite a good astrologer and she has been re-

WORKING

various aspects for us. I lent her Place in the Sun, but
can't let Among the Stars go, as suddenly it is life to me
to pick out various star-aspects - my own and friends.

I give myself Sag. rising, as I don't know hour- and this
gives my Venus in Leo a place in the House of Death. It seems to
be exactly M E. However, there is good life-aspect of
Saturn and Sun and Mars and Sun - but VENUS! That great and good
lady is shining now, full and splendid, out of my bed-room
window- or into it. As we still have black-out, this is good for
seeing the stars. I never seem to have seen her anywhere so clear
and bright, and last night, there was a tiny crescent moon,
with her hors or petals up, as if to receive Venus in a cup or
flower-cup.

I do hope things go well with you. I feel
for you, regarding daughter-trouble. We had a FIERCE time with
P. about two years back, when she wanted to marry the wrong
young man ... having told us she never would marry him, it was
"brother-sister" relationship, she flung this at us. It was
crible- but now I am sure she is glad she did not tie

Indian book, too the o

March 25.

Dear Viola,

First- I must tell you that I have opened THREE boxes
this morning. It is NOT right that you should denude yourself.

Will you forgive me for not having written sooner-
the surprise
of finding a Christmas card had upset me so much. I am sure the
contents of that box in their little paper-wrappers will be
wonderful.

I will sayre them around. If they have got
soft, they will be baked, if they have got hard they can be
steamed a bit. I have not sampled them- but both Bryher and I are
so touched . Then the three THINGS in the glass-jars. I love
the beautiful grape and pineapple- the apricot broke, but it
is mixed up with the straw or excelsior and I may unpick it
and find that it is just one good side-ways smash, in which case,
I will be able to rescue some of it. If it is splintered glass,
it is safer- alas- to let it go altogether. Then the blue
dress in the next, and the two pairs of gloves and the two

packages of candy-
now really, I am deeply upset. This should
not be ALLOWED. I regret not having written sooner but for weeks
we have been on the jump, as Perdita got her preliminary orders to
go to "Europe" - more than that, I can not write, but you can
imagine ; it was a business saying good-bye a number of times and
setting generally wrought up. Although her passport if British, she
went in U S uniform as she has been with the Embassy people
here- the U S - I am sure we told you.
We could not
see her actually off- as all the departure places etc. are
kept secret and we have not heard from her yet- but members of
her office and former collegues are back and forth and I am sure,
one day there will be a letter delivered personally by one of

her pals.

Her uniform, second Lieutenant- was
so attractive and she had wonderful accessories, such as the girls
here in the English services, don't dream of! Now she had
an accumulation of clothes from five years back- and there are
such a LOT of them. Cleaning problems are difficult, so she left
many things half-and-half- and we have been seing to them, and I
assure you that I could go on living in her clothes for ten years-
but I have been wrapping them up and putting them away, as for

her future- D.V., it will be a happy one. I am only
sometimes un-nerved by this complete "double" life- I feel
that P. eventually will settle in USA and I feel my old
breathed-out personality could never keep up to the pace there.
Well- the war is not yet over so there is no use getting hot and
bothered about future plans- but this is our first real
break since September 1939. We have felt penned up here.
Now after all your wonderful goodness, I never wrote you for
your birthday. Well- blessings on you. To go on- that blue summer
silk is lovely and the jacket. But I must tell you, you must
really not do anything again- EVER. The gloves! Now I
am leaving this for Bryher for I am breathless. We
had out Easter card- so pretty with the one box and the
Christmas card with the other- well, life is like that. I love
the Christmas snow and that house- something like one you sent
years ago- but that one was silver glitter- I think I told you
then that snow and a house gave me nostalgia for USA and my old days
memories.

My new book of poems should be out early in April and I am posting you
a copy. It is called Tribute to the Angels- they are planetary
angels and though I bring in a Lady, she is also planetary.

I hope you get this; I like the poems and wrote them last May when we
were having a tiny little breathing-space just before D-day. Then
the worst of our fly-bombs came- so this was in a way, a sort
of pre-vision of protection. Certainly- we have been miraculously
save D.V., if we only get through this last lap, O.K.

Friends have suffered loss of homes and partial loss and some
injury. It doesn't bear thinking about. Well- God bless you
and your good children- especially the wonderful BOY. AND to
continue my list, thank you for three or four lots of papers and
several magazines. We enjoy them and pass them on, when we have
finished. I have to ration this to a page- I am having my glasses
changed and am in the inbetween stage, wearing the out-worn old
ones, waiting for the new. I will hope to write again.

April 19.

Dear Viola,

Bryher asked me to read her letter - and I see she has mentioned
all the wonderful things; though I think I have already witten
you, let me say again, thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!
I posted you a copy of my book of poems, TRIBUTE to the ANGELS.
I hope it gets to you all right.
We have been

very hot here, for a change and hope to go away but only for a
long week-end. We are going, D.V., to Stratford on A. for the
birthday celebration. They have it every year, William S. and
Saint George day more or less on top of each other. I have been
one to Stratford, before the last war but never to the
birthday. I had your own birthday marked on my Calendar,
March 15 but did not write to you, but thought of you at the
time. Time runs away with us, for all the dark and dreary detail
of life- though we have been very lucky and it has been quiet here
for some time now- rap wood! I am glad for you that the
Boy has done so well and you must be greatly relieved that things
are so near an end.
We have a huge USA flag to hang

out and some smaller ones, Greecem, British, Welsh dragon etc.,
etc.
It is so good that Perdita is away now- she is
really happy but very busy, of course. I don't know what
is up, re E.P. I know the books of theman you spoke of-
and read article in the paper you sent. Some of your papers were
saved to take to other people- it is strange how important these
old papers and mags. are. We get Life and New Yorker however, regular
regularly and there $s always a lot of meat - in Life at any rate,
and the gay advts. cheer us up. This is just in a hurry to get
out with Bryher's note. Do take care of yourself. Your
letters do cheer us up. I loved the last Xmas card, received with the
pop-corn - and how good the pop-corn was, quite fresh though it
was months on the way.

May 18.

Dear Viola,

First about Perdita. We were not supposed to name her place
of destination- so we may have appeared a little confused. We
meant by USA that she was with the USA forces. In uniform
of the same. Well, you know where they are now. Anyhow, we do
hope that she may affiliate in the end with that crowd- she
un-spoiled in a way, as, as a young girl,
seems to be very happy and, was not taken about by "boys"
much ; that sort of life is typically American and much the
best. So now, she is quite unspoiled and enjoys every kind of
attention like an un-spoiled deb. At least, that is how I
think of it. I believe several "boys" have proposed- but
I know how casual a thing that can be, she may have taken
seriously just some little friendly joke or politesse.

But so far, she is officially, at any rate, unattached. She has a
great pal, whose father was some high-up in China and she and this
boy were both brought up " away from home" as it were, and &lever
with languages. I her from her boss who goes back and forth,
that she and this H. are " inseparable." P. may be there now
for a short leave, before going on ... somewhere else.
They fly of course. I think eventually she will get to USA but
even if she does, she will probably have some official work for a
time and won't get around much. However, thank you so much for you
wonderful kindness.

Now the papers have come - the cuttings. Your letter was most
amusing and I think it good for you to let fly- and here of
course, all is deschetion as far as gossip is concerned. I think
IF she waited that long, it prob. is her Mr. Right, as they
say here. If not- she can find another after a
discreet pause between. I know how you feel. I think the shock
is too terrible- as I can witness, when P. did NOT marry her
very, very distinctly Mr. Wrong. I was ill- bombs going on too-
but they were a mere incident. I think it makes one
unconsciously remember all ones own past- and mistakes or no-
one wants to spare one's children and get the best for them, having

sacrificed ones own best years to bring them up. I think it
is those "best years" perhaps, that hits us under the belt.

However- the world revolves and you will be standing-by, I
hope when Sue has her own problems. She's of course, a very
lovely girl and no doubt, you naturally feel she is wasting
herself.
About the Check or however-it-is-spelt-
that need not be so bad. After all, they are the old
Bohemian race, a very grand tradition of art and music and
especially glass- Bohemian glass- remember ? I went to Prague
once, it was truly lovely there and the people so nice.
The Maine father will match up with Sue's own New England

The Maine father will match up with Sue's own New England
strain.
This is actually very cold comfort-

the smoke is not mine and I know it must have been a shock and I am
sure you brought it all off beautifully. I got a
letter yesterday, Br this morning. With the pictures of S.
At the moment, I can't think of a wedding-present, perhaps later,
you will advise me. I had hoped if we ever got prosperous again,
to do something for the girls- I don't quite know what, but I often
spoke to Br about it. However, if S. is married now, I presume
her problems will be all more or less of a practical kind- not
of a " career". What is Barbara doing now ? Your letters do
amuse us so much and give us such a picture of that town and all
the people there. We had a pretty serene V Day. It is all
rather quiet except for low-flying planes bringing back the
prisoners; they fly low so that they can get a glimpse of London.
We are saturated with old miseries, and only hope to revive a
bit and get away to the country for a little change and rest.
I don't know when, but I had the birthday, April 23, at Stratford-
on-Avon and feel in love with the place- but it is all-but
impossible to get in. We went this year as a sort of premature
peace-celebration and marched in the procession and laid our
little bouquets of Shakespeare's flowers on the famous old
tombstone to the left of the altar in Trinity Church.
Marched to Wedding music and peal of bells - really a
wonderful ceremony, so simple, children and scholars and
local dignitaries and some of the actors all mixed
up with soldiers, sailors etc. etc.

We had Perdita mentioned in the talk in the church, I think she
and Hermione were the only ones-
a good re-read and review of old Shakespeare, very, enfrenshing

I have been having

now. Viola too is one of my favourites. I envy

you the fresh air and your garden. Now for the first time in
over five years, I can sleep with my curtains open and I just
watch the moon-light on the ceiling or the few
passing lights from the still-scarce motars, in a sort

of dream.
It was the feeling of being cooped-up
that began to get us down at the end.
However, all the

little simple things mean more to us, I suppose, than we
could ever have imagined in the old days.
I envy

P. getting away, and her boss who comes in here almost
every Sunday to supper, goes off, to Spain, to Norway, all the
time- and quick trips to USA. These people who get about
have no idea of their blessings. In the old days, I too, took
travel for granted - and at last, this has given me a
great desire to see more of the beautiful English country. No
private cars, much as yet, but a doctor friend in the north may
get a little petrol, as they call it here, and come to
Stratford to see me if I manage to get in there again.

Mrs. Ash was very grateful for your kindness and we all
treasure the cards you sent us.
People here are really

very appreciative of all those things.
You have seen
about £., I presume? It was in the papers here-
well-known but got into the news, as the "Italian Haw-haw."

E. is reported to have been rounded up at Rapallo by the Italian
patriots and taken to Genoa, where this man interviewed him
in a little "office that served as his cell."
E. is reported
to have said that he was waiting to see President Truman and that
he thought Musso a human being but mis-guided but that Hitler
was a "saint, a Joan of Arc."
Cen he be quite all-there??????
He dropped out of the news then and we can learn nothing more.
My very best to you- I am really very, very sorry for this
shock.
Please look after yourself and get the very best out of
life. I count the years now-

want to have a nice
SELFISH time!!

Br is waiting again from Hila

June 24, 1945.

Dear Viola,

Just a line to say thank you again for letters and all
the memories of good things- and some stored and to come.
I sorted out some of the old cards, and finally parted with
a few for Mrs. Ash, as the children here in different streets,
give peace parties or VE Day parties and they seem to be
continuing through the summer. It is rather pathetic but
they love old cards and even stretch a line across the
street and arrange them as decorations. Bryher contributed some
and gave them a little bonus for their refreshments etc.
Now we have at long-last a little summer but so VERY
hot and stifling. Bryher goes off now in a day or so, and
I got a room or rooms at different places, when I was there
that short trip, early in the month. I stay at the Swan's Nest,
then a few days at Mrs. Denny, a lodging house, bed and breakfast,
then a week at a lovely town, Chipping Campden and back to Mrs.
Denny. I am considered wildly fortunate by everyone to have
managed to make this arrangement at all, as everything is
packed and jammed, in spite of the fact that now the coast towns
are open to visitors.
But write here, as we
have reliable porter who ends on our post. All you write is of
the most epic interest. I still " feel for you" regarding the
sudden marriage but then - I have poured out my soul in my
last to you, re the "young."
We have very good theatre
here now and I like the shows at Stratford. I never saw so many
Americans, even in America. The place is a leave centre and they
bring them and air-boys from the RAF in, in great motars
and busses, from the neighbourhood, to see the shows.
They have 8, I have seen 6 but am seeing some again.

I have Much Ado about YOUR play yet to come. Thank you for
the Violas or Jhonny-jump-ups. I do love them and the name so
much. My grandmother had them in her garden- well, a
grandmother without them would not make sense! Well-
Br is waiting to take this out, so enough for the moment and
more later, D.V.

Sept. 3.

Dear Viola,

Just a line to add to Bryher's letter. Yes- thanks again
and for all the wonderful help and hope you have given us. We
are all very anxious to get away; I don't know when or how but
I did have a wonderful five weeks at Stratford and around the
neighbourhood. I stayed at a little town called Chipping
Campden, that is Market Campden- it is one of the oldest
entire towns in England and was head-quarters of Harold the
Saxon at one time. The houses are all alike, one along
street and the whole under national trust. Yet it is most
natural and lovely and on the edge of the Cotswolds- a high
bit in the centre of England, the fresh air was so wonderful.

I am longing to get back- but travel is terrible, there were
13 of us in a tiny compartment, "carriages" they call them, you probably know them from the movies. People stand and sit, if lucky, on their suitcases and it is simply too terrible. However, I did it once- I may try again. Anyhow, I like it here, only everyone is breathed out and so tired and all the shopping etc. is more difficult than ever. Well- you have your troubles, I know- ours are very different at the moment. I do hope the fine boy settles in or settles down, as and where you would have him. I think Perdita has had enough of men for a bit- there were very few girls out there on the Rhone and the few there were, were in terrific demand - she now, at least, has seen a lot of males,- our terrible scare about her Mr. WRONG has made us grateful for all the boy-friends she can collect- actually, there is safety in numbers and if she picks one now, it won't be because he is the only pebble on the very large beach! Actually, we have met some of her friends and they are very stimulating and charming and look so attractive in their uniforms- a number of Navy boys. But they come here after being de-mobbed from France and Germany and then wait for a boat- so we only have glimpses.

I hear nothing at all as to E. ; there were , as you
know, a number of write-ups but now as far as I can see, he has
simply disappeared from the map. Our American friend, P.'s
former boss, does not seem to know anything- though he may
not be able to speak of what he does know. I am always careful
about asking questions of people in " office" , so to speak.
I still enjoy so much all your descriptions of your
little house- rather large, it seems, and the garden and
the pond and the gold-fish or whatever it happens to be.

I enjoyed the theatre at Stratford and
saw you Viola, several times- the best Twelfth Night, I
have seen, but room always for improvement. At least, the brother and
sister looked alike, the same size etc. - and there was
charming setting and musical interludes etc. I spent
a lot of time in the garden of New Place, the name of Shakespear's
last home- where he died- but the house itself was
burned down- however- the garden is a dream and a better
memorial than a museum-like old house, I feel.

Much love, this is really a rather dim
letter as I do not yet seem to have got settled after my trip.
P. was here to meet me and we have had much come and go in this
small apartment- but now P. is on her own again and began her
office-work this morning.

All the very best and thanks,

Oct. 4.

Dear Viola,

Thank you for card and all good wishes. How time flies! I am
a 59er now. A friend who I have not seen for 18 years
spent yesterday with me. She is married to an Englishman and her
two sons have been back and forth, Africa, Balkins and so on,
but both came through O.K. Her daughter is happily married
but the father won't see her as the man is part Maltese. I
do not think of Malta as "tar brush" but evidently the father
is very huffed about it. However, the girl seems happy enough ;
at least your check is racially O.K. I am sorry you
have had the worry but glad the girl is back at her art.
Margaret Snively( Pratt) is the friend and it was at her house,
when I was 15, that I met Ezra. He was a friend of her brothers at
U. of Penn.
She has a sister ; Ethelwyn ;

Mrs. Edward Cosbey

Iro- 1st St., Wood Ridge, N.J.

I don't know if that is anywhere near you, but if I write

Ethelwyn, I will tell her about you and maybe you could meet.

E. has one son in the Pacific, I believe. She is married to
what her sister calls, a "cold fish" , an Englishman who took
out American papers some time back. She has not been very
happy but never left him; I believe they still live in the
same house though they do not "live together ". Ethelwyn was
rather extraverted and hysterical but a very good sort and would
be amusing on the Ezta saga. I also met Bill Williams and his
brother at the Snivley's house; I was interested in your
news of them but I met Florence and Bill in Paris about 1925 and
was not at all impressed, even then, with either of them. They
were friends of Robert McAlmon to whom Bryher was married at one
time.
Bryher and I talk a lot of USA. I am beginning
to write and say I MAY get over- but it would not be for some time
I don't know how I can face seeing people after all these years.
Oce should crosssoftener. Margaret was so interested in all
news of E. and I told her about you and how good you had been.
Indeed, I can not thank you enough for all you did for us during
the very black years!

Br left this letter for me to read so I won't repeat her news, only add again, how much your help and sympathy meant to us. I am getting letters now from people who never wrote me, during all the terrible time, saying, " now the war is over- I must write and tell you how much I have been thinking of you." Why didn't they do all this, five years ago and continue doing it ?

As you did!

I had your card and two letters, and Br had a letter in the same bag, so we had quite a visit with you yesterday! I am sorry the boy is going west- month

but he is SAFE, that is the great thing!

We have an old lady friend coming to lunch with her son, his wife and two grand-children. I don't know how we will get through it.

The so lives in Ireland and is over for a short visit and Mrs. Hughes wanted us to meet her beloved grandchildren - so- so- we could not refuse, all sprung on us on the telephone, long-distance , and one can not think quick enough , confronted with things like that. "Restaurants are so crowded , with long waits and I have to refuse soup or anything that looks like hash or ragout or fricasee or what-not, as a crumb of rabbit give me a sort of ptomaine- and of course, everything is chopped up nowadays ; it's all right, if you are not allergic to the rabbit! I do not think we get rats and mice - though I have heard that guinea-pigs may amerge- but that may be a joke , like cat. However-

there is to-morrow to look forward to, D.V.

This with a lot of love and thanks again

Nov. 23.
----------

Dear Viola,

Enclosed is a little card- I had a packet sent me by a cousin
in Nova Scotia , to send OUT ! I do hope you have a very
Merry Timetc., and a Happy and prosperous 1946, as per card!
We just had a parcel from you so I will be close thanks with this. I
have handed Br her stocking and her share of the plunder and she
will be writing you herself . Thank you so much. I have kept
the stockings in their little wrapper as for the Day. The
cheese has gone into the kitchen, it looks a love - we will have
it when Perdita comes in, one day's soon. The soon has gone to
swell my not too-inadequate store. The raisons were
shared with a friend who brought us some fresh eggs. He could
not believe his eyes. But now ... all this must STOP, my dear.
One- you have been too good and generous. Two- we MAY be coming
to USA! I should hate to leave any good things behind! We may
arrive in a destitute condition, in this case, we will call on
your help, in situ , if that is what I mean. All plans are very,
very uncertain, but I have got my Visa and Bryher has here. We
are getting Perdita busy on her own pass-port etc.; as she was
travelling on Government passes for a long time, she has got rather
spoiled as to "status." However, we are at least, TRYING to get
out of the bog of worry and depression. Myself, I have been invited
to lecture at Bryn Mawr, this coming spring. Actually, the
lectures begin early February, through to mid-June. I don't think
I will get off for the early Feb. ones; they said they expected there
would be difficulty with passage etc., so they have given me a
little lee-way. BUT ... I am rather amazed at my accepting but
it is a way to get across, and I will have a small, but very small
salary. I expect my USA address will be :

@ Bryn Mawr College

Bryn Mawr
Pa.

That is what they have written on my passport forms anyhow.
But I will let you know of further plans and when( if) I do arrive.
And if I stay any time in N.Y., I will ask you to come over to us.
All this is a very big I F!

Well, again. Thank you so much for all//you have done for us. No one, NOT ANYONE here or in USA, was so kind and consistently thoughtful.

If sometimes, my letters sounded a little vague and thin, it was because of censor-ship. It is not easy to write a gay letter when there are hundreds of casualties around- is is very wonderful/ that we were so miraculously saved.

We had one of the V2 stratosphere things fall in the park, just near us- if it had been a few more inches out or in, in its aim, the other side, we would long since have gone "home." That was near the end, just before the final collapse, after all the doodle-bugs. I don't know why I mention this now - but we are suffering from a little reaction! Anyhow- this MUST go at once. I will hope to write later. I read of E. in various papers!!!!

Bryher and Perdita joining me in all thanks and more
later from your ever grateful Hilary.