The Nurses’ Home, The General Hospital
Birmingham
Feb 24th 1915
My dear Sweetheart,
I have been to the dentist this evening, a Mr Nicholas, to whom many of the nurses go. He filed the side of the tooth, a back one, and put a temporary dressing in after removing the old filling and I am going to him again on Monday to have it re-filled. Nurse Sampson came with me. Oh, by the way, you might return me her photo – I only sent it to you to look at not to keep!
I am sorry your quarters are so cold and do hope you’ll soon be able to get some coal. I would prefer it though in some ways to the plenum.
Why wasn’t I at Blackheath when you went to Sydenham on Sunday! Although for Kath and Jack’s sake perhaps it was a good thing I wasn’t anywhere about – they could have you all to themselves. Don’t I just look forward to the time when I can have you all to myself. I was just thinking when I started this letter how natural it would seem to me if you walked in to this room. I have changed so much since our engagement – our Love seems to make us so entirely one that I can say almost anything to you in my letters.
I believe when this war is over with all its intense nervous strain I will even be able to talk to you as I write to you – but when I am with you now for brief spells it takes me all my time to keep from breaking down.
Some days I hardly dare glance at your photos, they bring you so vividly before me, and make me remember that the time is drawing nigh for you to join your comrades in France. It is so difficult to submit cheerfully, although I know it is God’s will that this suffering should come to me, to help mould my character and to make me a better woman. There are days too when I find it so difficult to pray – do you ever get this difficulty? I kneel down and seem to grope with my mind in the dark as it were but no words come – the only thing I can do when feeling like this is to remain on my knees for a few moments and just let my mind rest on God in the hope that He will understand.
I must close, now, dear Love – this is a short letter but as you mention you had a pc and a letter in two days you do not deserve a longer letter than this yet! You wouldn’t have had a letter, only that pc, only that you asked me to send you a short note now and again, and I did not dignify my short note by calling it a letter, but as my short notes seem like letters to you, it is rather nice for lazy me, because you won’t know the difference!!!
Goodnight, dear Heart – God bless and keep you.
All my love from
Your own affectionate
Mela
