Baghdad July 2 Dearest Mother. I'm enclosing a letter which, when you have read it, will you send on to Father. I think this is the best scheme.
I'm afraid you will be very sad at parting with him for two months, but isn't it really a good thing that he should be so full of vitality and the power of enjoyment. How delightful it will be for Elsa and Herbert to have him! He is, we may admit to one another, like no one else in the world. I can't think how other daughters can bear not having him for a father.

I loved your account of Frances and her baby. Are you going to have them at Rounton? You haven't told me you plans, but if Moll is well enough to come back to London, I expect you will stay on there till the end of this month.

Thank you, dearest, for being so very kind to the J.M. Wilsons and I'm so glad you liked them. J.M. is the salt of the earth; his delightful friendship and the companionship of working with him in the Antiquities Dept have meant a great deal to me. He is so straight and good and withal so enthusiastic over his work and so intelligent about it.

You often say that one needn't bother so long as one retains the power of making friends and when I think of J.M. and Ken, and the close comradeship and affection which I have had from them, I feel I must still be a vital person. Bernard too, but those two ever so much more. They are, however, all three, very fine creatures.

I have been reading a bunch of modern plays published by Benn. Some of them seem to me to be very good and to strike a very real and human note. What do you think of the Fanatics? It took me by the throat as an expression of what, in general terms, I also think. I'm not sure that it is a play, in the sense that it would be good on the stage. I have sent for two new plays by O'Neill - if there's anything else you think remarkable, you might tell me. One is apt to miss even outstanding things when one is guided only by reviews.

I read when I come home after lunch. I've had 6½ steady hours of work and I'm tired, and besides it's too hot to do much. So I read myself to sleep, if I can, for an hour and then go on reading till it's time to swim. On Saturday evening I get my mail, just before dinner - that's an exciting and delightful evening.

I'm sorry about Sister AraBella, but last time I saw her she was quite blind and almost unable to move. It's not worth living if one lives as little as that, is it.

Goodbye, darling Mother - I shall continue to write you a letter in addition to the one for Father. Ever your very affectionate daughter Gertrude

I'm writing to Cant about some bulbs I want sent out at the end of August. If he is in doubt will you please help him.