3 Place de Rivoli
Paris
Nov 17th, Friday morning
My dear Mela
You will have heard the fatal news from Mother, what we have been dreading all along and yet how I hoped and prayed it was not true. For us it is awful and yet how Mother’s heart must be bleeding – he was such a model son and brother, always thinking of us.
I am trying to get back to Mother as soon as possible and I hope to have my papers by Monday.
Friday evening – since I started my letter, I have been about my passport and they tell me I have to wait a whole fortnight at least before I can get away. Poor Mother is all alone and it seems hard to think I cannot get to her. The difficulties are insurmountable for returning and one cannot blame the authorities for being too careful, but it is exasperating bearding all the officials in their dens, especially when one is feeling so sad and miserable. You must feel “down”, too, and more so when one is away from home. It is a good thing to be occupied and to have something to distract one. I think when I do get back I shall go to my “French prisoners” again. I feel I must do some war work, even if they will not allow me in the canteen again.
I am glad you liked the nightdress case. It is not so beautiful as I would liked it to have been but it will last a long time.
I do hope poor Cyril will be spared to you. It is a blessing in some ways that he is away from this front, though no doubt his turn will come again to move up. He has been wonderfully lucky up till now. How you must long to see him again. I know a French lady who has her husband in Serbia and she has not seen him since the beginning of the war.
I must close now. Best love and kisses, Mela, dear. I do wish the war was over.
Your loving sister
Barbara
PS – What is Wilfred’s address? Do you mind forwarding the enclosed, please?
