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[The British Hospital, Wimereux.]—(5th.) Will return [to England] on Saturday. Freddie Guest came to see Norman, and took her to Boulogne for tea.—(6th.) Has received Montagu’s telegram, and has told Lady Norman of her intention to leave. Refers to Montagu’s possible journey to Russia. Is going to Hardelot with Conrad and Hunter this afternoon.

Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - Glad that Robert found Julian 'so well and stout', and to hear about Aunt Annie [Philips]; as well as Robert's 'report about "darkling". His shoot yesterday was very disappointing; plenty of birds but they only got fifteen and Charles shot all day; once got thirty-nine in a day on the same day while shooting with Thornton [Trevelyan?]. They are waiting for six hundred Newcastle Liberals to arrive; will give lunch to fourteen of them 'of whom 4 are knights or baronets', but will 'take care not to give bite or sup otherwise' since 'the Dorsetshire petition... warns us that hosts must not be Guests' [a pun on Freddie Guest, unseated due to election irregularities by his constituency agent]. Impressed by Byron's 'courage in making "darkle" a verb. But he was an audacious aristocrat.'

18 Mansfield Street, Portland Place, W.—Invites him to join her ‘anti-yacht’ party at Penrhôs at Whitsuntide. Asks whether he has managed to convert Violet to Dorothy’s cause (i.e. temperance). Is seeing Sir Herbert and Lady Jekyll this afternoon, and dining with Geoffrey and Captain Guest.

(Dated Sunday.)

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Transcript

18 Mansfield Street, Portland Place, W.
Sunday

I am starting an anti-yacht party at Whitsuntide, just to show them that in spite of Winston its still possible to have fun in England. Will you come? Either for actual Whitsunday itself {1} or for the following week, which ever suits you best, {2} or both. Dont say you are going to Geneva for the Alpine Crow or to Italy with Geoffrey because you really are pledged (ever since last summer) to come to Penrhos. Its the nicest time of year there and ought to be delicious. There is only one legitimate excuse for you and that is if they after all dont go on the yacht and you want to go somewhere with the Prime.

Have you managed, on this glorious day, to convert Violet to Dorothys cause {3}? I’m afraid it will be difficult.

It is a waste being in London. I am reduced to Kew with Sir Herbert and Lady Jekyll this afternoon, and Geoffrey and Captain Guest to dinner.

Yrs
Venetia

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{1} 26 May.

{2} Comma supplied. The next two words are interlined.

{3} i.e. temperance. Dorothy Howard’s mother, the Countess of Carlisle, was a prominent temperance reformer.