2110-3-5-12

76, PORTLAND PLACE, W.1.

Feb: 12: 19

My dearest wee Mother

We were very glad to get your kind letter this morning. If you miss us, we miss Peebles & you most horribly. Our decaying family is for the most part on its legs again. Susie is better & Alice is still coughing but fairly well. Only poor old Bill is very sorry for himself. His temp. keeps above 100 & he has got a cold on his chest, but the doctor is not anxious about him. Nanny is very overdone, poor thing, & her temper is precarious. We are being lent a maid to-day for a week by Aunt Blanchie.

Will you give Walter the enclosed little book. Tell [him] it is one of those we used to smuggle into Germany in parcels, & it is very rare.

I think the only other copy in this country is in the War Museum.

A thousand thanks for sending us a haggis & things. You are the kindest of wee bodies. Yesterday I lunched with Geoffrey Dawson, the Editor of the 'Times'. This afternoon I have a League of Nations Executive Committee. I am very well myself. It is bitterly cold. I see from the papers that Tweed is frozen, so you must have the same weather. I nurse the pipes as if they were sick infants.

Much love to all

Yr [illegible]

John