2110-2-16-5

c/o General Charteris GHQ BA in France

Sept: 25: 16

My dearest little Susie

This is a wet day and I am wondering about you. My inside is not quite the gentleman it should be, and that disposes me to reflection. I start work in earnest to-day. Yesterday afternoon I went to see Hubert Gough & Neill Malcolm & found them in very good spirits. In the evening I dined with the Commander-in-chief, who was perfectly charming. The Chief of Staff was there, General Kiggel, & the general staff is as nice a man as I have ever seen. I had a long talk with Sir Douglas afterwards & I fear, if the Foreign Office consent, I shall have to undertake this work. But I hope to get home pretty often, though only for short periods. I have got a funny little billet with a queer old French lady who is always inviting me to

come to the kitchen fire. I feed in a very nice mess, where the food is good & plain, & I have a car of my own. It will be very interesting work, if I can get my digestion right, and can only persuade myself that my petite jaune is not too miserable. Do try to be cheerful, my little Susie. It will make all the difference to me.

Maurice Baring comes in every morning. He is in great spirits. I have a good & attentive servant. I came home through Amiens yesterday & the place is looking lovely. It is queer weather, rather like April, with bright starry nights & the whole sky lit with the flicker of guns. Do write to me often. My love to the blessings

Your ever devoted

John