11/6/18
My dear Juliet
I’m reminded by Kathleen’s letter that your Inter exam is “right here and now”, so here’s to wish you success. It think it must be very difficult to settle down to student work these days. I remember how such things as a general election put one off considerably from steady application. However this war has gone on so long, and looks like lasting considerably longer, so that one doesn’t regard it as a passing excitement, but rather an ever-present nightmare.
In common with most other people I’ve quite gone out of the prophecy business, and if tempted at times to do a bit of forecasting I certainly don’t prophesy smooth things yet!
I had a cheerful letter written on the 6th from George; he had enjoyed a journey by road to a base town to get horses. The country 40 miles east of the Calais-Abbeville coast is very fine, and with green spring crops and fresh leaves in the frequent woods and copppices it has been good to traverse.
I am busy just now with my own work and that of a neighbour who is on leave. As soon as I can get the necessary timber I must get my two huts put up and then can get properly established. By that time I shall be “sweating on leave”, ie “souhaiting” in army French – but hardly expect any luck before August if then.
Please thank Kathleen and Jack for their letters, I will write soon to K. Hope they are both fit again.
Best of luck in the exam.
With love
Your affectionate brother
Arthur
