Wed. Ap 2. Haifa. Dearest Mother. There is an Austrian boat taking the post tomorrow morning, so I must send you a line by it which will probably arrive before the letter I wrote to Father. I have not yet received your promised telegram about Uncle Tom and am anxiously expecting it. You must not expect very long letters from me in future for I see a vista of severe overwork before me! What with Arabic and Persian I haven't a moment in the day, for after lunch I fly out and ride. I saw my horse dealer yesterday who promised to send me a horse as swift as the wind which can gallop all day! this desirable animal I am to try tomorrow. There was a violent storm this morning, sheets of rain and hail. Mr Monahan [i.e. Monaghan], who was to have gone to Jaffa [Tel Aviv-Yafo (Joppa)], has consequently put off his departure till tomorrow, but as he paid me a farewell visit yesterday I haven't proposed that he shd see me again. So he contents himself with notes and the showering of books upon me.
I am going to visit all the missionary ladies today. Mr M. says this is expected of me. I love my two sheikhs. It's perfectly delightful getting hold of Persian again, the delicious language! but as for Arabic I am soaked and soddened by it and how anyone can wish to have anything to do with a tongue so difficult when they might be living at ease, I can't imagine. I never stop talking it in this hotel and I think I get a little worse daily. Ever your affectionate daughter Gertrude

The birds fly into my room and nest in my chandelier! they make a horrid mess, I'm going to turn their nests out.