2110-3-8-9

Peebles 11th Oct. 1920.

My dear old John - We have been dreadfully sorry for you in this violent - most uncalled - for attack of indigestion. It was so delightful to see you working so well and - almost - plump - & now you must be a shadow again. It is desperately disappointing both for you & Susie Don't you think perhaps you got cold in London that first very wet day after you got back? It looks to me rather like like gastric catarrh Mother had that dreadful pain for about ten days, you remember when we came back from the Azores? What did the doctor think had brought it on? Poor little Alastair! But happily he is too young to know anything about it and it will do him immense good - I always remember the 19th Oct, it was the day I sailed for India! It is hard for Susie

that you have to be in Edinburgh that day. I am so glad my Bill's portrait is good. I had a nice letter from a lady who was fearfully pleased with the idea of a hippopotamus being sick. She said she had told a friend about it & the friend replied in a puzzled tone. "But are hippopotamus ever sick?" She finished her letter by telling me how she loved little boys; her only son having fallen at Delville Wood. I have been writing to Mr Watt refusing to write a serial for the People's Friend. It was the Lord Bidborough touch called forth that offer - the P. F. loves earls to marry mill girls etc. If only I had your ready pen what a lot of money I could make! I hope Hodder will get rid of his 3rd edition. It seems to me rash to print another 5000. I read aloud the Grenfell book last night. It is delightful & we were much moved by it.

what a stainless pair of men they were - It was hard on the poor old world but infinitely better for themselves that they were taken out of it all so soon.

I am struggling with Hugh Walpole's "Captives" - I wonder why he does it! Hundreds & hundreds of pages about the frowstiest, most unattractive people, & houses that watched the dwellers in them - he has brought his Russian touch to bear on England now & the result may be Art but it is certainly anything but gay. I do hate hate the "thick" young men he writes about. The weather is absolutely wonderful. Walter had a holiday today & he has golfed from dawn to dark. Yesterday he spent the whole day on the

hills. We are all looking forward greatly to having you here for a night next week. I shall try & send off the things that are left tomorrow; the shops are all shut today.

Mother and I have been very busy since coming home, but things are getting straight now.

Much love to everyone & do please try all & keep well

from

Anna.

I had almost forgotten what I was really writing about, to thank you for the cheque. Alas! the income-tax people have caught me. Walter suggests that I put a notice in the papers "O Douglas thanks her kind patrons & is unable to write any more as she finds she has to pay income-tax".