December 26, 1908
Kelowna, B. C.
My dearest Kathleen,
I got your Christmas letter [Kathleen–December 11, 1908] today. It came exactly on the right day but I couldn’t get in to get it then as I was at the Cleminsons’. I wish it was a Christmas letter every time as it was a particularly nice one. It isn’t the length of your letters so much as just one sentence that I find in some of them that makes them so absolutely charming. My next letter from you is the one that is going to decide so much. I haven’t dared to think what is to happen if I don’t get the answer I want. It is a weight that is always hanging over me and I never get it quite out of my head whatever sort of a time I’m getting at the moment. I do love you, really–if you only knew how much, I don’t think anything I had ever done would make difference [sic]. I wish you were out here and had been for the last two years. I know then that it would be all right, but when I can only write to you it is awfully hard to explain myself quite clearly.
I didn’t get your Christmas present today, but as very often all our mail doesn’t come at the same time I am nearly certain to get it the next time the English mail comes in. Thank you in anticipation. I was hoping you would send me something.
Harry and I had a very nice Christmas at the Cleminsons’ yesterday. We went to Church in the morning and then we had a tremendous feed about half past three, after which Harry and Mrs. Cleminson sang and played the piano respectively while myself and Cleminson played draw-poker–at which, for a wonder, I was very successful. Incidentally, I got the ring out of the plum pudding, which they tell me means a speedy marriage which I most sincerely hope comes true. Today we came to the Mallams’ for the weekend and they are having their Christmas dinner on Monday. About sixteen people, nearly all young, are coming so I expect it will be uncommonly lively and probably lots of fun. We usually get to playing Blind Man’s Buff on such occasions and other childish games of the same kind which, seeing that I know everybody here very well, I thoroughly enjoy. On New Year’s Eve the Lysons’ are giving a dance (Mrs. Lysons is a sister of Mrs. Mallam’s) and on the 2nd one Barnely is doing the same. He lives next door to this place (I am writing at the Mallams’) and I shall meet the same crowd as on Monday night. After that I suppose the Christmas festivities will be over and we shall get to work again.
There is a gramophone here playing “Lysistrata” for all it’s worth about two feet off my head. I wish I could have been at Stow Ball with you. If only one could be spirited over, except it would horrid being spirited back again. I wish I’d never left you. I am sure there is no sense in a man and a girl being separated after they have decided they want to be married. This is about the longest gap I have had between two letters as I waited to get yours which didn’t come on the usual day and I can’t get a mail now before Tuesday.
I don’t think I have any more news and there is much too much noise going on to think of anything.
With all my love,
Ever yours,
Robin