Sunday 26 Aug 7pm
Dear René,
I was delighted to hear from you again today, can’t imagine why I should be so lucky to receive so many charming letters from so nice a girl as you are, I just want to answer your queries by this rather brief air-mail, for I think you deserve a considerate reply, even if only because you so conscientiously write so regularly, it’s very kind of you and thoughtful and what you say is thoughtful too, more than I frankly deserve for my impudence! I’m so sorry if I hurt you at all, which I trust was not the case, glad you have a sense of humour too, but I quite deserve any bricks you might throw!
Sorry I was so miserable in my letter, I was rather morbid wasn’t I? As you so truthfully say René, and you are right in this respect, it’s not always right to look too far ahead. You are perfectly right by only living with a few days in advance. It’s quite wrong to take life for granted, and plan selfishly for the future. God, I’m sure, meant us to live each day as it comes, and not to look or try to foresee the future. We have to learn to trust God, don’t you think? Thank him for his provision each day, and the gifts he offers are given only at the right time. Though at one time I really wondered if I was making a mistake by writing as I do, not trusting enough. When a young boy I was always doing things which weren’t always the best saying “Oh, I thought so & so” and mother used to say “you’re always thinking & doing what you think”, but perhaps God allows for people’s peculiarities and their ‘thoughts’, if one really tries to do the right.
Sorry to hear you are so tired and worn out, you’ll have a good holiday at ‘Inglenook’, you need one I think, dear, dreary old Bristol!
Reading your letter again, I think I did ‘tease’ you unfairly, actually with so much in between, I can’t accurately remember what I said, it’s nearly a fortnight since I wrote, but always ‘pull me up’ if you don’t quite agree with me please René.
No, I know you are not the noisy, talkative type René, as I said in my letter of yesterday, I think you are just like your photo – gentle, quiet, and all a woman should be, anything else, well, I have to imagine the rest, I’m looking forward to the time when talking to you instead of writing will be the greater pleasure.
You rather did take my breath away, don’t, whatever you do, change your style of writing, I love the way you ramble on!! Seriously I do, and I promise to write as often as possible, with so agreeable a correspondent, how could I otherwise? I don’t really think that you are too comfortable at home to want to marry, not if you were really swept off your feet, or head! But being thoughtful is very wise, not rushing into anything you’re not quite sure of. I sincerely hope that you won’t marry the wrong fellow, who ever he is, at least being thoughtful about it does give me a ‘look in’ (says he, not realizing what he is writing, oh! I’m such a selfish brute).
Thanks, René, for going to have your photo taken soon, very considerate, and I can be patient if I want to be – who wouldn’t be, for you?
You wanted to know all about Perugia too, and I’ve filled the letter all with selfish remarks, I’ll send you a whole lot to look at, and you can think you’re over here too with me, can’t have a birthday with those sort of snaps. When is your birthday?
Day off today, saw all the old churches, tell you more later, it was good.
Seems near finis, thank you for all you said, you’re very sweet.
Cheerio for now, God bless you.
Yours very fondly
Eric.
Ps. What’s the idea saying on Monday: -
“Will write again at end of week”?
Love to Auntie.
Tags: Perugia
