2110-2-7-6

Checkendon Court, near Reading. May 12. 1912.

The Hospidaritza of Checkendon to the Ban of Buchan. Greeting: [underlined]

Think not, oh kindest of Bans, that your gift has not been appreciated. Many an hour has been sped by the reading of your delightful book. But I have been in the far, far North for some time & have been so full of labour & cumbered with much serving, that I have not felt

I could properly express my thanks to you.

I told you that I didn't care for short stories but there are some exceptions. Rudyard Kiplings, R.L.S.'s & yours. Most people, to my mind, cannot get up enough pace in the limited time to make a short story interesting. But if you have enough driving power to get straight away

there is nothing so delightful & that is what you do. I loved the Lemnian & the "Rime of True Thomas". "Streams of Water" - oh & "Compagnons de la Marjolaine". I have always liked the sound of that song & its name & now you have given it a fresh interest.

The fact is that you put into your stories that "lost romance" "and ghostly shine of helm & lance", which so few folks can realise & fewer still can convey to others.

Thank you ever so much for sending me the book. Everyone in my family is clamouring for the loan of it - which shows how much they liked your last one. I must tell you that I gave the book to Jock coming down here by train one day. He began with your Pentland poem & after reading it through he said "He's awfully good at writing verse!" Out of the mouths of babes etc.

I felt I dare not meet you without writing to thank you because though

I shall see you tomorrow, I am much too shy to tell an author by word of mouth, how much I admire his writing.

Many thanks

Yours very sincerely

Katie Oliver