2, Cheyne Gardens. - Very interested to hear that Bessie is 'out for another gallant effort' [is pregnant again]; will keep quiet until she tells her not to. Her children were 'really "done" [had their tonsils out] yesterday, but are 'quite cheerful' again today. The 'very skilful surgeon' was [John] Gay French: he only seemed to take five minutes for each child and 'has done all the correct modern dodges such as 'enucliating' [sic] instead of guillotining'; he says they can go home in two days, but Janet is glad they were not treated like the children at '[her] clinic, where they're turned out to walk home after 3 or 4 hours!'. Sad that Julian also needs to have an operation [on an umbilical hernia]. Would love Bessie to stay on Wednesday, but the wife of someone from [George's ambulance] Unit is coming to stay on the way to Italy, and may be there then. Afraid she is also not likely to be in London after the 15th, since she is probably letting the house to the Maurice Amoses around then and taking the family back to Stocks Cottage. A postscript says the news from George is quite good, though due to bad weather 'the roads were getting difficult for his beautiful cars'.
Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Hears from Caroline that Bessie is making arrangements for Julian's operation [on an umbilical hernia] in London in January; suggests that he goes to a 'nice little nursing home in Royal Avenue, Chelsea', where 'Charlie had his knee done', and Bessie can stay nearby with Janet; she should 'refuse to be bullied by the doctors into going to one of the Wimpole Street places' which are 'the most awful swindle-traps in London'. Several of her friends have been there, and they were recently 'very kind to a Belgian lady of ours [i.e., linked to the Belgian Refugees Committee]. Would be very good to have Bessie there: Janet 'often feel[s] lonely at nights'; Mary and Humphry would also be able to visit Julian and help to cheer him up. Will not get her house back from the [Maurice] Amoses until Friday 21 January, so probably will not be ready until the 24th; hopes that will not be too late. Returns to Stocks Cottage tomorrow.