2110-5-9-8

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

10th September, 1931

My own darling,

I was delighted to get your letter this morning. Of course you must feel rather groggy after being in bed, but I do hope the weather is letting you get out a good deal. It looks from the papers as if you were having much worse weather in the North than we are having here. Yesterday was lovely, though today has begun rather cloudy .

I am glad my little man had a happy birthday.

I am lunching with your mother today, and I may be able to dine with her tomorrow night.

I think Ivor Nicholson's offer is excellent. I was always afraid it could not be published until next autumn, for you see it is a Christmas book. ^a childrens book of mine ST

We had a dullish day in the House yesterday, but I am more and more convinced that after the Economy Bill and the new Budget the Government cannot go on. The Labour party are in an appalling state of nerves and confusion. I had deputations from teachers all day over the proposed cut in their salaries, which I think is really unfair. Nothing can be done, but I must try and get a chance of speaking tomorrow to soothe them down.

Will you ask John if he can tell me where an Eton boy can get a peregrine falcon? A colleague of mine in the House,

Captain Waterhouse, is very anxious to know on behalf of his son. He would be quite willing to pay a good price for it. The rumour is that we have got sea eagles at Elsfield. What they would hunt I do not know - something like calves or sheep, or perhaps foxes.

I dined with S.B. last night. He is in tremendous form. He makes the most admirable little speeches on detailed matters, and is the only one who gets a good hearing from the Opposition. To-day we have Snowden's new Budget. Simon is going to announce publicly his conversion to protection, and Walter Runciman has got an interesting proposal for the absolute prohibition of all luxury imports from abroad, as during the War.

I do hope Alice will have a good journey and enjoy herself .

My train on Friday night is the eleven o'clock from Euston. I get the Broughton train at Carstain and will be with you at nine o'clock, I hope. I am very well and have got a good deal of work done. J