The Nurses’ Home, The General Hospital
Birmingham
Feb 13th 1915
My own dear Cyril
I had a wire from Mary and Ethel to say it was too wet to come over but that they would come next week – so am writing to you just after tea before going out. I had hoped to give you news of them, as it is, there is very little news to give you as I do practically the same thing every day and theatre work does not tend to give one a fertile imagination to help to write a letter all about nothing in particular and yet it sounds interesting!
I wonder, dear, if you would pass the enclosed cheque through your bank for me. The clerk in the House Governor’s Office got mine from Aunt Jessie cashed for me so I don’t like to ask for another to be changed so soon.
I am looking forward to hearing from you tomorrow but hope my letter telling that Aunt Jessie had remitted has stopped you going to the trouble of getting postal orders.
Don’t think, dearest, that I am offended at your offering to help me but cannot you see how bad it is for me. I must manage somehow even if it is to be on £12 year. I think I told you once before, didn’t I, Sweetheart, that if I were really hard pushed I wouldn’t hesitate to ask you to help me. If you do not remember this, anyhow you’ll see that it is not that I am too proud to accept your help, but that I do not think it is right that I should do so unless driven into a corner with no means of escape.
You are a dear goodhearted fellow to have written as you did and I thoroughly understand and appreciate the kindly thought which prompted you to write and offer to help me. You say that your one joy in being able to save money is the fact that you are putting by for me, for us both, in the future. If I took any of it now I should feel I was robbing the future; and as yet I have no claim on you in the least degree.
However where I have said all this; please don’t think me horrid. I think it was most generous and dear of you to wish to help me but you mustn’t spoil me.
Think of the future, dear, and don’t let me get out of hand now, I might get ever so troublesome!!!
One of the nurses here has been sent before the Committee; she is to be expelled but I don’t know for what offence – am told that it was something so wrong that the fewer people who knew of it the better. I believe she has been too flighty with the opposite sex. It is a pity as she is a 4th year nurse and came out top in her exams and can be smart when she likes, but there is a kink in her character somewhere.
I don’t feel like writing, dear, tonight – we’ve had a very busy week and my brain seems all used up. We had 14 operations one day and do you know I actually had to assist the Surgeon at one, as there was not a house man available. It was not very pleasant as I did not know what to do – however we managed all right.
How is your little Sweetheart of four years old?
With all my heart’s love, dear One, God bless and keep you.
Ever your own
Mela
PS - Cecil crossed on Friday; Bar accompanied him and joined some French friends. Mother is to stay in England a little while for a rest.
