British Legation,
Adis Ababa.
20 June –
My dear Gertrude.

Another enchanting letter from you to me – they warm the heart – But my dear I am so very sorry you were ill in bed, obliged to rest – how is your throat – well long ago please god – but I know they are painful things – the desert took too much of you and the long marching – how – but not now its already long ago since you went to Rounton to rest with Sir V. C. Next week I shall hear from there – your letters to me are a part of my life now – I’m so glad I’ve been to Rounton & can see you there.

21.

And then came seven of the telegrams & I have had to read & answer – and write & look up - & now its Sunday afternoon & the mail goes this evening – and I have yet to ride 2 miles to the French Legation & talk to my money eating old colleague there - & write all private letters –

My dear but I can’t leave you like that. I haven’t thanked you yet for your wire about Basreh – important job, you say, not political but elastic – thank you queen of the desert and the inner garden –

Yet I don’t know about Basreh – I’ve never even wondered much – I’m busy for one thing & the other is that it is written or not written - I should love to see you there – but you are a fugitive, a dream falling, with your soul already in Riad – with all the bars grown suddenly so high between us – now far away as we are we look over all such things – there are no bars – to you at Rounton or wheresoever I deliver my soul – but then – don’t I know how hard it is to leave behind one all the other things – yet still – to see you is my hope at Basreh – But could you come – It’s a foul hole – All the time I’d be afraid you’d be ill perhaps – all the time I’d be in a sweat to have you safe away – and easy and happy with that desert desire of yours between your hands – all the time there would be things unnatural and unreal – and yet its that, just that, I think of whenever I think of Basreh.

You should write your Gulf book. All should be well – you and I should be spirits – “first of all to be spirit in form in substance, and then to have the fairest wife in Nuremberg” – do you remember Faustus – but the greatness of that first of all – and we knew it isn’t just greatness.

And I wanted to talk of my treaty. Its getting interesting – I’ve done one telegraph line - & another is big – they are good – but over the Treaty I detect the F. O. bothered – they don’t want any question – poor dears they shan’t have any if they’ll only let us be – The Sirdar & I did the telegraphs without asking them. & Kitchener will be home before you get this –

Only here there are many swords in the path. How I’d love to have you and your help & wisdom - & power of making friends –

But I’ve said nothing yet - & time goes – so you saw Deedes – yes he’s a man –

My dear my dear there is in me a great longing to say something to you, something from you to me – but I don’t know what – something without words like a kiss, like some sudden understanding that lights the world – I haven’t got it – I stop writing – there is half the world between us - & yet there’s nothing at all –

Yes & I had something else to say – I am so very sorry my poor dear for you about Lord Cromer – He was (is I hope) a great man a really great man.

And what you said about the cage – the cage we live in - & the exit after perhaps & struggle at the bars – but surely loose a great man shall grow greater – if he was great in a cage free he can fly – I believe that – but even if it were wrong what then – we can still face death and smile – why not?

But for you there’s the friend gone, the trusted beloved friend – I hope he isn’t dead my dear – I am so very sorry.

There was much else to say – But in the end what would it amount to? Just my love to wrap you round – to take you from all pains even sore throats – and serve you gently as you would – goodbye Gertrude

Dick.