2110-4-4-6

[Lady Mary Minto]

March 26/24

Hydon End Hambledon Godalming

My dear Mr Buchan,

Your letter touches me deeply. I have had to lay my soul bare in giving you all my private thoughts but it has been my privilege to do so, for unless you knew what our home life was, how could you write with understanding? Esmond was a very remarkable boy he was so young to have influenced people in the way he did even as a tiny boy at Eton. I enclose the notes you asked for but of course

I have 2 more Vols. His childhood & the letters from the front. If you wd. like them I will send them to you, but you have already such masses to read, I dont want to overwhelm you. I come to London tomorrow, & will post the 5 corrected first chapters to you to Oxford on Friday. I return here Sat[urda]y. I want to tell you that I read Eileen the 1st Indian chapter out loud yest[erda]y, we were both thrilled. You have done it quite admirably, introducing as you do such a vivid sketch of that complicated period with such clearness. There are a few minor

things I am anxious to tell you but wd. much prefer doing this when I have read the whole. The 2nd chapter I await with eagerness it will probably arrive by 2nd post. I am preparing the Canadian suggestions wh. I will forward as soon as possible - but I hope the delay does not matter as you are steeped in India. Canada in comparison seems trivial - but I think it is interesting how the story gradually works up to

the big part played in India. Your character sketch of Morley is supreme. I see him sitting in his robes in his isolated splendour! The chapter as a whole is absorbingly written, but I always feel it is impertinent of me to allude to this - & yet I cannot refrain from writing these lines of grateful thanks.

[Yours ever?]

Mary M.