Dec 29 Para Dearest Father. We are safely on board with all our belongings and we have magnificent state rooms to ourselves - side by side! So you see it's quite perfect. The wind is blowing furiously I'm sorry to say - I shall therefore send this letter off before we start for we may be incapacitated soon after. We are both much excited and amused. It's awfully interesting watching the people who come on board. Some look rather nice I think, but for the most part we think they don't look as nice as we do! Maurice has bought a book called Manners for Women with the help of which he hopes to be able to give me some useful advice. The last thing he has found in it is that all English women of the right sort can use the needle as skilfully as they can ride bicycle etc. This encourages him to hope that his shirt buttons may be sewn on during the journey. We spent an agreeable evening at M. St. Uncle Lyulph was extremely affable and we were much interested to find that he has been over very nearly the same route we are to travel. He gave us several useful hints. Aunt M. [Maisie] gave me a little silver box with two angels' heads on it - to protect me during the voyage, she said! Lots of the sailors are Malays and blacks; I hope they will behave pretty. We are going to have such a tossing in an hour or so! However I don't care - it's all part of the game. I wonder how the Middlesbrough function is going. I ought to be cutting bread and butter at this minute. Wd you post us to San Francisco some more of the B labels - we find them so useful and I have only a few more. We have no passports but I don't think we shall need them. I was so glad to get your two letters this morning. My dear love to Mother and everyone. Ever your affectionate daughter Gertrude Tell Mother my cold has quite gone and I see everyone in fur cloaks! It's very warm however.