Item 63 - Letter from Venetia Stanley to Edwin Montagu

Alderley Park, Chelford, Cheshire.—After a stay at Penrhôs she came to Alderley, where the Arányis made a disagreeably long visit. She has been to Liverpool to buy some penguins, but got a fox instead. Refers to a letter from Bluey, and asks how Montagu’s journey is going. Outlines her plans for the winter.

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Transcript

Alderley Park, Chelford, Cheshire
October 10th 1912

I have forgotten your address and mislaid your letter so I shall send this to the India Office from whence in due course it will be forwarded to you at Bombay or somewhere, I hope. If you were in Scotland I should find it quite easy to write but the fact that you wont get this for so long and will be in such different surroundings from me when you do, makes me feel that I ought to have a very high standard as to what is worth writing about and what isnt. All the same I shant apply that standard, because if I did I should stop now, for nothing has happened to, or near me, since you left. I had 5 swan song days at Penrhos, most lovely and a very bad preparation for an Alderley winter, tho’ as a matter of fact it is very delicious here and as far as weather goes perfect. Up to to-day the personel† of the house has left a great deal to be desired. In a moment of unthinking kindliness I wrote and asked the Aranyis to come for a day or two, meaning them to stay from Sat to Mon. They arrived, more exuberant than ever and I only got rid of them to day (Sat to Thursday) by telling them that I was going away myself. They were really terrific. I could stand the eldest’s grossness and vulgar indiscretion, and the youngests somewhat cloying flattery and affection but when these two lots of failings were combined in the form of the middle one, together with the largest share of congenital idiocy that has ever been bestowed on one human being, then civility and ones duty to one’s guests came very near to giving way. However they have served a purpose, I should never have been so happy at being alone if I hadnt had the horror of their visit. Father and I are the only two inmates of this house and he goes tomorrow leaving me completely alone for 4 days. In theory I love it and am over the moon at the thought of all I shall do, but I expect I shall welcome the return of other human beings very gladly.

I have been seized with the desire to own two penguins! And consequently went off to Liverpool yesterday in order to buy a couple. Unfortunately there were none at the moment. I was sadly disappointed and consoled myself, after resisting the claims of a huge square brown owl with amber coloured eyes the size of a 5/ bit, with a young fox. He is moderately nice only, but still very shy. I hope to get my Penguins before very long.

Bluey wrote to me cursing you for having left England without telling him what he was to say to your questions in the House. The viper really loves answering them. he is coming here shortly.

I do wonder how your journey is getting on and if you are having great fun. Have you met the magnetic lady yet? How many of the books have you read.

I ought to have got a list like you for myself to beguile the long hours here, for we are going to be practically alone till the middle of November and I shall have even more time than you will. I am going to the Opera tonight in Manchester. Doesnt that shock you most awfully? I know what your opinion about music and its effect on one’s character is! I do wish I had seen some people so as to have something more thrilling to write about than I have. I go to London in November for a month and then back here till the middle of February. No Sicily I am afraid.

Yrs
Venetia

On re-reading this I find it even duller than I had expected but it must go all the same. Is Mr Peel engaged to someone now {1}?

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{1} Or possibly ‘new’.