May to David 24.4.18
My dear David,
Batsfords write me as follows:- “We are quite sure that the lists of ‘Everyman & Wayfarers &c’ were included in the last parcel. We are, however, sending fresh copies, together with the catalogue of Engineering books. With regard to the Library List of Architectural books of the Surveyors Institution, this is only supplied to members of the Institution. A syllabus, price 1/6 net can be obtained, but the Institution prefers that the application be sent direct by the client interested. Doubtless an application from you on behalf of Mr Taylor would be sufficient. A very practical little book for calculations in the metric system is Moleworth’s ‘Metrical Tables’. We shall be happy to forward same to Mr Taylor if you think it would be useful to him.” I am ordering this, but what about the Architectural books catalogue? You see we cannot send any of the books &c from your stock at home; they must be fresh ones direct from Publishers.
I am worried about your feet. They will soon be bare, I am afraid. A few weeks back Mrs Taylor sent you a pair, but not your field boots. She was waiting to hear if you had received the others first, but considering how long parcels are taking I will ask her to despatch at once. She has sent, I believe, 10 pairs of socks, but it does not look as if you have had many of them.
The other day the damp was showing through in my bedroom, so the next morning Ethel called at the landlord’s office and told him. The same day the long ladder and a couple of men came and put it right. The landlord has turned over a new leaf recently, and is so prompt in sending his men to put the place right. Perhaps he is frightened in case we give notice to quit.
Yesterday it rained all day again and looked very dismal. However, our Palmist called up in the evening and looked at my hand again and so livened things up. She said it had changed a good deal, but the black men were still there. Also I should be working amongst fresh faces for a while, and have a good rise for it. There was plenty of good luck coming to me, my worst time being over. You would be home within a few months. I can’t think of anything else just now. Today it is fine with sunshine! But the wind is still north.
I hear Dutton’s shorthand is catching on better than Pitman’s now, owing to the fact that it can be learnt in 3 days, and speed obtained in a few weeks. I don’t know whether it is any good. At any rate I am asking Batsfords to send you on a book with the one on the Metric system. It will help kill time, if nothing else.
We are still very busy, but not working late, although I suppose we ought.
Nothing more to say just now, so I will close.
By the bye I don’t think you have been feeling well for the last few days, though I know you will declare you are quite “alright”. At any rate I have been imagining you are not. Goodbye.
May