[14 January 1914] 'Amman [(Rabbah)]. Jan. 14 Dearest Mother. I have got my letters from Damascus [Dimashq (Esh Sham, Damas)] and among them yours of the 31st, which was indeed welcome. My troubles are over. I have today permission from the Vali to go where I like. The permission comes just in time for all my plans were laid and I was going to run away tomorrow night. They could not have caught me. However I am now saved the trouble - and amusement! - of this last resource. The delay has had the advantage of giving Fattuh a few days to pick up strength. He looks, and is, much better than when he joined me, but one does not recover from typhoid in the twinkling of an eye. Now, I think, he will be able to travel without fatigue. Tomorrow I camp again at Ziza [Jiza], in order to pick up two rafiqs - one of the Beni Sakhr and one of the Sherarât who will serve us as guarantors when we meet their tribes, as we probably shall in a few days.
I have made the acquaintance of all the leading inhabitants of 'Amman! Today I attended a Circassian wedding and drank tea with the Protestant congregation, which numbers 15 families. Your news is not all good. I am so sorry for Sylvia and I regret the little cousin whom I have never known. Will you please give Sylvia and Anthony my love and sympathy.

I never thanked you for your letters and enclosures from papers which I received last week. There was much excitement in my camp over the pictures of my family in the Asquith party.

I very much regret Spencer Lyttelton. Poor Sarah! two brothers in six months. I was very fond of Mr Spencer and I remember what a dear he was when he was at Rounton. Goodbye my Belloved step-mother and father. Your affectionate daughter Gertrude