Baghdad March 18 Dearest Mother. Aunt Maisie's letter (which you enclosed) made me feel very sad. If only it were over how much better it would be! I do think you are so right to cut off a lot of tiresome and tiring things. It matters so much more that you should be well and able to do the other things which give just as much pleasure to all with whom you are doing them. You do make such a wonderful centre for such a number of people. That's the thing that is best worth doing. I look forward to getting the Fog on the Moor - good title.
Esme leaves tomorrow which is a great loss to Sir Henry and me and many more besides, but to Sir Henry and me chiefly. We three have taken to motoring out to gardens and going for little walks together. They are so fond of one another and it is so nice being with both of them - they are so amusing and charming. She will come and see you when she is in London. And you will tell me whether she is not exactly like the wonderful bust of Queen Nefertiti - do you know it? There's a cast of it in the British Museum.

Ken and Lionel and I had a delicious day last Friday. We had been cooped up for days with dust storms and rain till we could not bear it, so we started at 6 and had a whole day out up Ba'quba [Ba'qubah] way. Ken shot duck and Lionel pretended to shoot and surreptitiously watched all the birds through his glasses and told us what they all were - he is very learned about birds. There was a cool wind and a bright sun and the whole country, which last time I was there on Jan 2 was frozen stiff, was covered with short grass and quite green - a wonder here. On Sunday afternoon Ken and I and Sinbad motored out with the King to a little stretch of water about an hour away to try to get a goose. The King had had some reed butts put up in the water, to which we waded out, ankle deep in mud. The geese, I need not say, were much too wily, but it was beautiful to see them flying about, with flocks of cranes and pelicans too.

Colonel Joyce, Ken and Iltyd dined and played bridge.

Tonight I have a Frenchwoman to dinner - Baronne la Caze who brought me a letter from Thureau Daugin; Lionel and Mr Cooke to meet her. And tomorrow I go off very early to Kish with J.M. [Wilson] to do the division. We hope to get back on Friday evening barring motor vagaries.

Goodbye dearest; I must write to Father. Your very affectionate daughter Gertrude.