March 30th /08 Kitebrook
Moreton in Marsh
My dear Robin
I see your good ship has arrived on the other side of the pond. I hope you had a good passage. It seems months since you went, I can hardly believe you haven’t even got to your journey’s end yet.
I am so glad you enjoyed the “Merry Widow”, I knew you couldn’t help liking it.
We were rather badly beaten in the hockey match 6-3 but I had the satisfaction of giving the reserve for England a good hard bang.
My poor Blackbird has declined to carry me any more this season, after that last Merrimonth day, so from that point of view its lucky the season only lasts another fortnight. We had two splendid days last week–on Friday I rode your bay mare and liked her very much only she’s a bit slow. Coming home she looked rather longingly at a man with a bucket of water so I offered her a drink in the stream in Swell but instead of taking it she tried skating on a large slab of stone and sat down in the rode. We got up together however and continued our journey amid shouts of mirth from a decrepid old man. Lawry has been riding your white nosed beast since you left. Today I have had a long and weary time at Boulter’s Barn and a very damp twelve mile ride home with Mrs Warden and Mr Richardson.
Aunt Fanny is still away and Geoff has gone away today so I am all by my lone self till tomorrow when I go to the Grisewoods–after hunting at Wolford–till some of my family return.
Norah came here on Saturday till this morning. She has been up to see a doctor and he wont let her hunt or play hockey any more this season which is rather bad luck, and says she is to be fed up so she drinks gallons of milk and port and iron tonics and such-like and looks better already.
I spent a thrilling afternoon with Mrs Barnsley just after you left. After I had skilfully avoided many questions leading to you I discovered Auntie had discussed the subject with her ages ago. Wasn’t it mean of her (Auntie I mean) not to tell us it would have saved us so much anxiety with regard to MrMrs B. She then asked me what I thought about Norah and Harry, of course I had no opinion to offer!
Your step-mother’s chauffeur seems to have distinguished himself by upsetting a baker’s cart and a perambulator and distributing the bread, the baker, the nurse and baby all over the streets of Stow!
Poor Daphne was in a great state of mind on Friday as, according to her own statement, she nearly jumped on Mr Richardson but he doesn’t even seem to have seen her so I dont think there can have been much danger. Apparently the horse blundered on landing and upset his majesty and Daphne having got her horses head turned in the direction of the wall, couldn’t stop and as she went over saw a pink mass writhing beneath her! and it was only owing to “Flying Dutchman’s” extraordinary presence of mind in swerving in the air that she did not land on him. She said he rolled off like a sack of oats — Mrs Barnsley got hold of the story and told her he heard she had said as she descended “What on earth did you want to roll off for you silly old sack of oats!” Daphne is very glad you are not here as her life would not be worth living for some time to come. I am sorry to hear you are such a bully!
I am told the Cingalee Hodson considers the Telly quite the best horseman he has ever seen, such perfect style!
Daisy and the Hodson girl have joined Mrs Rose’s skirt-dancing class. I should love to see them! I wonder if that photograph has started out to you yet. Norah says it was absurd of you not to tell the photographer to send one straight to me and now I come to think of it I cant imagine why on earth you didn’t. However I shall hope to get it soon, and an essay too. It was good of you to write to me before you left. I was afraid you might not have time.
I think I have decided to change my pianola for a pianola-piano. I have got a rotten lot of music this time except the Choristers which is much better than the roll I had last time.
I suppose you are back in that dear little house by now as its April 2nd. Are you glad to be back in your wonderful adopted country I wonder? I suppose you will be so busy you wont have time to write to me for ages
Yrs ever
Kathleen