The Rectory, Fakenham, Norfolk
22-viii-19
My dearest B.H.
I must just write to thank you all properly for the perfectly ripping time you gave me, and for putting up with me all that time. You, at any rate, know how much I enjoyed it, every minute of it. Please give my love to all the family and my thanks. I think Seward House is quite the nicest house I know to stay in – thanks to my kind host and hostesses.
I am sorry to trouble you about the food-book; it was the very first thing Mother asked me for, and I had quite forgotten all about it.
Now about my journey. We got very comfortably and quickly to Leicester, only stopping at Nuneaton. Then I hopped out, procured a porter who was most paternal, and who saw to the luggage while I got tea, for which I was very thankful, as I couldn’t have got it after. No crush at Leicester – an awfully nice big clear airy station, as different from Birmingham as you can imagine. I also had time to retire, which was a boon, as the train was not a corridor one. I got a corner facing the engine, in a not very full carriage and travelled in great ease and comfort to Fakenham. The train stopped at every station at first, which was a bore – it was so long it had to stop twice at those small wayside stations. After Saxby it hurried up and ran straight on to Bourne, then to S Lynn, then Fakenham. It was just about punctual.
Mother, Babs and Clement met me – my luggage went on on a bus and we walked – about 10 mins or ¼ an hour. The house is right in and on the street – hideous outside, but very nice and comfortable in. The hall boasts an American organ. What with that and the piano, Geoff’s clarionet, Clement’s flute and occarnica, and the tin whistles which all three children have just bought, you can imagine the continuous row that goes on. I wonder what the maids think, after a quiet old couple. We have a dining-room, drawing-room, small study, 4 bedrooms, 2 single, 2 double, and bathroom. There are 2 or 3 rooms locked up. My room is very nice – the daughter’s, I think. The quilt bears the name of “Peggy”! She took a 1st in History at Oxford – St Hugh’s. Ain’t she a brain. The book case in my room is covered with note books – Aristotle, Pol, Econ, European Hist etc etc. We make our own beds, dust the bedrooms and drawing room. You can’t think what it feels like to have 2 whole live maids, and to be waited on at meals! It is rather like a neighbouring vicarees at home, who after months without any servant, went to a place where there were two maids, as here, and said she was beginning to feel almost a lady again!
The garden is quite big – very wild (!!) – it was only cut for hay just before we came! There are several apples trees, and one or two plum. We are only allowed wind-falls – vegetables ad lib. There is a barn, and ducks and chickens.
I don’t know how long Clement is staying – he came last Tuesday, but Ma suggested of her own accord that I should ask Hunt down, when he’s gone! Sister Reynolds and a friend are at present looking after the Rectory.
Geoff looks very well – a little better-looking I think – which might well be – less pimply. He’s quite unspoilt – not a bit high and mighty. Clement is lankier and thinner than ever. They all seem very glad to see me, and Babs and Clement fought for my arm yesterday – Geoff having possessed himself of one, when they took me round the ground. They were a little surprised that I was looking as well as I am, but thought I was thin.
It is jolly being with them all again – absence certainly does make the heart grow fonder in this sort of case. I’ve never been away from them all so long before.
Oh, Bets, dear, how horrid it was going to bed without you – I missed you most of all then. In the train, I sort of couldn’t believe I wasn’t going to see you at the other end, and I was so sort of soaked and saturated with your presence that I felt I’d got you with me in a way. Comprenez? Certainly I’ve got the best of the bargain – excitement and change of place help one over the roughest time a lot. If I’d got to stay on in the same place and do the same things without you, when I’d been doing everything with you, I don’t know how I should bear it. It’s bad enough as it is without a better half!
Mother has just come and bidden me to go for a walk, so I must fly. They liked the photo – I haven’t mentioned the others. Pa says it’s the best he’s seen of me for a long time, and they all think it’s v good of you too.
I do hope you went to bed early yesterday and slept well. Remember you promised to take care of yourself. I didn’t get to sleep till after 12, and woke up before 7, but slept well in between.
Must go now.
With oceans of love
Ever thine own
W.H.
PS – Please salute May and Ethel for me. I do hope they are both much better for their holiday. My love to the animals – I dreamt of them all last night!
