Baghdad Sep 13 Dearest Father. Your letters of June 25 and 26 and July 2 have come, the last 2 telling me of Mother's not being well. I had a horrible moment of anxiety and then remembered that it was nearly two months ago and that if she hadn't been better you must have cabled to me and so I didn't telegraph, but I wait your next letters with great impatience. I hear there's a mail in today so perhaps I may have letters tomorrow morning before posting this. She has been doing so much too much, clearly, but she has such a wonderful vitality that I do hope she is now as well as ever. Anyhow it's dreadful to be so far away when you feel anxious. My news this week is precious dull. It's detestable weather, temp 112 and absolutely still and I've had a cold and a little fever so I sent for the good Willcox who has given me tonics and ordered me to drink wine and not to ride for a bit, and I expect I shall be all right in a day or two. The worst of it is that it's so boring. I had to put off dining with General Cobbe and riding with General Stuart Wortley, and I've been writing my Persian intelligence book for hours and hours a day, having nothing more amusing to do. However I'm stopping that and having people to tea instead. Today Mr Bonham Carter came and was very pleasant. Sir Percy has gone, alas, I do miss him so much. Before he left he came anxiously and asked me if I were properly looked after by everyone, and happy, and then he warmly embraced me which now that you know him you'll realize was very unusually outgoing. Isn't he a dear, really - I do feel the deepest and warmest affection for him. He has taken Mr Bullard with him, which is also a great gap in my circle. The whole Cox party and I dined with the C. in C. the night before Sir Percy left, which was very pleasant. The next night we had a terrific function at the Convent - theatrical performances, songs, dances, not so long and rather better however than these things generally are. The children acted a drama - by what gifted author I don't know - dealing with the capture and escape of French soldiers. The Germans didn't have a look in, I need not say. Every emotional and patriotic chord was - well, twanged in turn, amidst immense applause. Only the C. in C. reduced the tension of my feelings by whispering to me at intervals comments on the appearance of the performers. They were comic, certainly. We have had, I must tell you an Industrial and Art exhibition - rather good too. There are some very respectable artists in the Force. I had a couple of hours reserved the other morning for the ladies of Baghdad who came by my invitation. Very successful, but oh, the heat! I've got a new pony, from the Remounts, the one I had in Persia needing a rest; but I haven't been able to try him yet. He looks rather a darling. The Remount General is a very useful friend to be sure. There! I told you it would be dull news. But then not everyone can be entertaining Royal Dukes, as you do. Ever dearest your very affectionate daughter Gertrude This is the correct September weather. It's called the Date Ripening Fortnight.