2110-5-10-11

St. Stephen's House, London, S.W.1.

24th February, 1932.

My own darling

I got your letter this morning. I see poor old John has been bumped again. He is like the Celtic heroes according to Renan who went out to battle and never returned. Still, it is a good thing to bear the yoke in your youth.

I am glad you are not to have the fag of standing for the Rural District Council. Biffy will make a very good member.

The Palace ceremony yesterday was quite short. Apparently I take very high precedence, for I came third, after Lord Peel and Lady Cowdray. The King thanked me again for Scott and said he had read a quarter of it!

I had tea and a long talk with S.B. Then I dined at The Club and sat between the Archbishop of Canterbury and our new member, Clive Wigram.

I am greatly looking forward to seeing Alice tonight and I hope the party will go off well. I hope, too, that her cold is all right now.

I do not think I shall be able to get back on Friday until he 4.45, but I propose not to come up on Monday, and to go straight to Eton on Tuesday afternoon. So I will have a long weekend.

I enclose a nice letter from the head of Cassells.

I will send Aunt Margie tickets for the Ladies' Gallery as soon as I get any.

Neville Chamberlain gave me my amendment on Esparto Grass without any trouble, so I had not to argue it.

The drought seems to be breaking , which is just as well.

The country is too dry.

I hope you have thrown off your chill.

Much love. John