DLA123-0238  Transcription

3, FITZ JOHN’S AVENUE, N.W.3.

2. June 1921.

Thursday.

My Pauly boy –

Your nice long letter so glad to get, on my return from Cambridge – I spent last week-end there with Henry^[1] & had a nice time. Henry was v.pleased, because he had received a wire from Daddy^[2] giving his consent to Henry to go with Professor Lewis to Switzerland the end of July. Before going the Prof: Henry will go to Heidelberg for a few weeks to stay in a family & do work in the private Laboratory of a friend of Prof: Lewis / So you can imagine that our Henry is highly delighted.

He took my & some of his friends out in a [punt?], & we paid visits together, & talked & ate together at the Bull Hotel.

About my visit to you – I’ll come down on the 16th & do as you suggest, drive

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to Hobleys & after lunch I think we might walk across to that nice farm & have tea? What do you both think? Am disappointed having no letter from Stef^[3] this week – will you give him the enclosed, which I think will interest him –

I enclose you cheque for 15/– Mad: has already sent you the Beethoven Sonatas/ Yes, indeed you must have been dead tired after the long field day last Friday! So glad your feet are keeping allright. Pat^[4] & John^[5] went to Marylebone Swimming bath this after-noon. They enjoy it so much – its been v.warm today; now they are both in bed, & I’m sure will sleep well after the bath. Daddy writes cheerily – He was so pleased to get your letter & the photos – he says he would like to be here watching the studio building – The red roof is getting on quite quickly, the tiles are larger so the roof gets covered quickly –. The whole of the potting shed is being filled in, & today I saw plans for the laying

[On the side of page 2]

out of the Tennis ^court & grounds – A lot seems to happen every week –

[On the side of page 1]

Henry comes home on the 11th & will leave about the 25 June.

It is nice & quiet now – 10.30. P.M – after the sun –

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II

heat of the day. I wish I could have a cosy talk with you, my dear red man, before going to bed – I am trying very hard to get things finished before I leave on the 20th for France. I get up at [7?] in the mornings, & can get through a little extra in this way – John (who has his run of Daddy’s bed for a fortnight now) is the early bird & wakes me up with his chirping –

We have decided that the Ratman shall not be so called any more! as he is at times put in to a queer position by John calling aloud (in street or station) ‘Ratman’,

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What must people think! & as our Pat holds by being esteemed by the rest of the world who behold him, his dignity is decidedly injured as you will admit? Do you not?!

It is nice your doing photos for one of the masters, which is he? How is Stef? Do you speak with him often?

I’m glad you are so sure of your [report?], so we are all working working, like the dear father of the family – who has set us such a good example –

Now good night – I send you both Kisses & Blessings – | Yr.

Mum.

Editorial Note:

Mrs Philip de László, née Lucy Madeleine Guinness (1870-1950), the artist’s wife; for biographical notes, see [11474].

HJ

28/05/2020