Red Barns, Coatham, Redcar. Aug 12. Dearest Mother. It's such horrid rainy weather. It's very boring for Auntie Bessie because she can't sit out and I don't think she looks very flourishing. She says she feels well, but she has a little cold. However Hedley is coming down tomorrow and I will let you know what he says. I lunched with Helen today - Aunt Bessie always lunches in her room and I got home just as she had come down in the afternoon. Helen's garden is perfectly charming; it makes me sigh for more room here! Father came in at 4 and announced that he wanted to bicycle so we climbed onto the tandem, but the front seat is so high, tell Elsa, that we can barely reach the pedals. We are going to have it altered back to the old plan. He says he wants to bicycle a little, dear old thing. We went down into the town on our singles and he upped and ordered himself a new bicycle! He very nearly bought a dog too!
Maurice has gone off to the moors and returns next Monday till Friday so that Father won't be alone at all. I hope you will go to Ratisbon [Regensburg]. We thought of you last night at Parsifal. Ever your affectionate daughter Gertrude