Scope and Content
"At last I find myself alone again, after the excitements of the past two weeks. A state of blessed peace has come to my apartments, and, with a howling gale outside, I am settling down by the fire for a day's correspondence. I must thank you for the Beds. mag. and a Christmas letter which arrived before I left for Yorkshire: and the "continuation" which arrived this morning. Of the sweater designs, I definitely prefer 510, which I have marked with two crosses. And I think the navy blue would be ideal. I got Anne to take my measurements: chest 40": waist 31" (which shows my figure is still athletic!): arm length (underarm to wrist) 18": underarm to waist 12 1/2". I don't like it to come down over the hips. I think I ought to offer to pay for the wool, as I know this is an expensive item. If you will let me know what it is, I will send the money.
Christmas in Yorkshire passed off very busily and happily. We went to the 8 at the ancient village church of Wistow on Christmas Day, and to the Sung Eucharist in Selby Abbey. On Holy Innocents (Sunday after Christmas) we went to the Sung Eucharist in York Minster, which was quite lovely. Sir Albert has done a lot of things there - he is the official architect. Afterwards we walked on the City Walls. The rest of the time was parties, which continued when we arrived in London on the 29th. We were here on 31st and found arrangements for the ball well in hand. About 40 people attended. I think we all thought of last year when the Fantles and Horace Lindsay were there. Mrs. Fantle and her son and mother went away over Christmas. Last weekend I had more visitors, but as Anne and Christine were occupying my spare room, they had to go in the Castle Keep Hotel. This morning, Frank, Anne, Christine and Geoffrey (a young public school master from Yorkshire) went off to Dover to embark for Switzerland. Until yesterday, reports from winter sports resorts were very gloomy: no snow, nothing but rain from most places. However, they report that it is snowing now: so they may be lucky. They have gone to Arosa. I decided to wait, as I felt I needed a quiet time before I face more moving about.
Turning to your letter, I'm afraid I didn't get a card off to Aunt Eva, though she sent me one. You must explain when you see her that I hadn't her address, and that I went away in a rush before Christmas. I though I had told you that Miss Florence had been moved to Springfield at the request of her sister Constance who wanted to visit her and found Roehampton too far. It was all one to Miss Florence where she was, her mind was completely clouded. She was buried at Richmond beside Miss Di. I don't know what to say about the Eagles gravestone that is tilting over your grandfather. I think I told you the Miss Florence left her capital to me, but I have to continue the allowance she made to Constance (her sister of 89 living alone at Kempston), which is a weekly allowance plus rent. Miss Di made the same condition re Ada (the other sister), and I have been providing for Ada since 1951. Ada (now 86) left Nottingham last year and took a house at Bexley Heath in Kent, to be near some friends. Then, last summer, both Constance and Ada informed Florence's (and my) lawyer, through whom I send the allowance, at Richmond that their rents were to be doubled, owing to the Rent Act. They simply refuse to join forces and live together, though this was what F. and D. tried to get them to do for years. Well, of course, I have had to make myself responsible for these extra rents, which means I am subsidizing the allowances to C. and A. to the tune of £100 a year. I do not complain about this, as the only thing that matters to me is to carry out the wishes of Florence and Di, and I know they would not have wanted their sisters to go short in any way. But I don't see how either of them could do anything about the graves in Ampthill, which Ada never and Constance hardly ever, visited. And I don't see that it is my responsibility. The grave by the way is their mother's only: the father, Edward John Eagles, is buried at Great Barford. What would have to be done to get the cross upright? Would they have to dig round the base to straighten it? And who are the people who do that sort of work?
I get periodic moans from Perton about the church, the Rector, the state of the graveyard etc etc. He has never got over losing his verger's job. I must say I think it was a pity Waddy could not get on with him. Now that the church has such a flourishing income, a full time verger and churchyard caretaker would be possible. I always found Perton keen on his job and thoroughly trustworthy. He tells me he has been going to Maulden for a long time.
I saw the death of Lady Richardson in the "Telegraph". I cannot picture him alone in that big museum of a house. Has he got a housekeeper? Is Mrs. Roberts still living in the rectory cottage? Have you sold the Church St. property? What a lot of questions!
Yes: you must try and get over at Whitsun. I expect I shall be here then. I hope to go to Spain immediately after Easter (March 29th) for about 3 weeks, and will probably stay in France en route on the way home. My cousin in Mentone is pressing me constantly to go there, and I would like to, as Mentone is the place in the world that I love best - though I have become very attached to Kingsgate.
I sent a card to Newby Stanbridge and had a reply from his niece at Millbrook. I also heard from Ira Smith. Her mother is 90, but seems to be wearing well. Also of course from Valder. He is also amazing for his years - over 80. The Stearns sent me a card: also Vic Gillett. Did you see (in the Telegraph) that Godfrey Place has been made Captain at 37? He will be an Admiral eventually. His mother would have been proud of him. Do you see anything of Dorothy Ambler? Does she still have both those houses next to the Pinny pub?
Yours sincerely,"