2110-2-5-16

Rose and Crown Hotel, Wisbech, Dec: 13: 1910

My own little darling

It was so kind of you to send me a letter this morning. I am always thinking of my Punch: but I am just as glad you are not here. It is a comfortable hotel, but the whole country is knee-deep in mud, & it is raining hard.

I got to Ely at 6.15 & found Salisbury's motor car. I had some dinner. Then we motored to a village called Pymoor in the middle of a fen. (The second village where I should have

spoken was cut off by floods). Here began a glorious muddle. Our meeting had been billed all right, but the Suffragists had taken the only hall before me, & were announced to begin at 8. I got there at ¼ to 8 & found a large & very noisy meeting assembled to hear the Suffragists. I expected they would be late, so I asked to be allowed to address the meeting till they came. They did not arrive till 8.30, so I got in about ¾ of an hour's speaking. But such a difficult job. There was a very rowdy element of boys, & I was sorely hampered by the village

Idiot. When the suffragists arrived - one very pretty fair-haired girl, rather like you, who spoke well - I sat down, & we left at 9. Then began a wild journey through fens. We picked up a derelict Ulster parson, who had been going to address a meeting & had lost his way. We passed queer little towns like Chatteris & Donnington, & got to March about 11. There I found a very pleasant supper party - Bob Cecil, Ian Malcolm, Sydney Peel, Billy Palmer & George Bowles, who roared over my adventures. I got to Wisbech at 12.30, dog-tired, & slept late & long.

Bob's chances I thought are about even betting. His chief difficulty is the fact that he voted against the old age Pensions in the House. I am sorry to see that we have lost Cricklade & have not won Gorton or Tottenham. I think we may lose the Newmarket division to day. I am speaking at several meetings to night.

I shall ring you up from the office to-morrow when I get back.

Much love, my own darling, to you & the Ladykin

Your ever devoted

Fozz