Item 136 - Letter from Venetia Stanley to Edwin Montagu

[The British Hospital, Wimereux.]—(15th.) Is still convalescing. Anthony is coming to see her tomorrow. Her mother has written to say that she has spoken to Montagu and thinks they should settle their affairs quickly. Refers to the religious fervour of a letter Montagu once received from his sister, and wonders if she will meet any of his family when she returns to England.—(16th.) There is general delight at the news of renewed fighting and expected work, but it may prevent Anthony’s visit.

TRANSCRIPT:

June 15th 1915 Tuesday 9.30 P.M.

My darling your beloved letter has coloured the whole of my day & I’ve really felt quite happy on account of it. It was the only thing to produce such a state for everything here goes on being bloody. I stay in bed as much as I can & the rest of the time sit by my window & read. I’m not supposed to be doing any work so I’ve not even the fun of talking to the others except at meals. Two of the doctors occasionally look in on me & as they are as bored and out of a job as the rest of us remain talking for hours. Lady Norman also appears and bores me. I bathed this evening but it wasnt a great success, shallow and rather cold, but even with all these horrors I feel all right. We may be busy at the end of the week, Anthony is coming to see me tomorrow so I shall hear from him what the chances of work are.

I’ve read Romeo & Juliet & Measure for Measure today.

I had a letter from mother to-night who tells me she had a very nice conversation with you & that you were divine. She is now in favour of a rapid settlement of our affairs and thinks I oughtnt to keep you waiting. So you see all my family arent beastly about it.

Do you remember that long letter you gave me to read from your sister, we were on our way to Hoe I think, you were rather indignant (rightly) because I made so poor a pretence at reading it, and I was horrified at the religious fervour she showed. Will your family be in London when I come back? (In August!) or shall we go & stay with them? You realise that I’ve never seen your mother or sisters, I might be humpback for all they know to the contrary. I feel tonight such conviction that we are going to have fun. Why arent I always like this? The P.M. used to mock at me for my habit of gross under expression. “Fun” & “rather nice” he said were my highest terms of praise. Have you noticed that too. I think I’m getting better, but glowing terms do not come naturally to me. Tho’ by the way I’ve never before known anyone who signed themselves as you do with name, initial & surname when they were on such an intimate footing as you are with me!

Wednesday morning.

Its baking again, but we are all over the moon because we hear that they are fighting again and that we shall probably be full up by tomorrow. This also means Anthony may not come to-day which is a great blow, but I could bear it if it meant an end to this dreadful hanging about.

I’ll write to night as usual.

Go on telling me everything you think, feel, & do. I still live for your letters.

Much love
Venetia

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Written at the British Hospital, Wimereux, in pencil.