Dunally
Friday
Dearest Ticky,
I thought perhaps you'd be disappointed if you didn't have one letter while you were away, so I hope you get this in time.
Thank you ever & ever so much for all the presents - I love everything - and "the Heart of London" and the scarf. Is the scarf really for me? - or did you just use it to wrap up the parcel safely? - I hope it is mine because it looks very nice with my new hat & coat & skirt. I haven't started the books yet because I think I'd better finish "Evelina" - "Mother India" and "David Copperfield" before I start a fourth and fifth. I'm a hopeless person to give a library subscription to.
Have you had a good Christmas? - & has everything gone satisfactorily? You are lucky having snow - does everybody go tobogganing? - I'm fed up with eating and being polite to relations - 7 to dinner here on Christmas day - over to Dorking for lunch of 14 & on to Auntie Bob's party of 10 on Boxing day - 12 to lunch & tea here today. But it was quite nice yesterday as Grannie sent us all to the pictures in Dorking to see Walls, Lynn, Hare & Arnaud in "Stormy Weather" which was most renewing.
I find I only have to mention engagements, weddings, babies, divorces, burials, underclothes or you, to get asked in a furtive aside whether I'm thinking of "making my trousseau yet" - and I mustn't forget to let them know "directly it happens" - all with secret smiles of encouragement that make me sick to see how easy they think it all is - because they neither have no need, or have forgotten, what a terrific lot of things have to be thought of before one can consider the entertainment of one's relations. - Oh, darling, I'm longing for you to come home and put everything proper again - when people go out of their way to show me how much more sensible you could be; and how foolish I am to put all my eggs in one basket so wholeheartedly - it puts my back up to myself - but it makes me want to find out if it's all true from you too - and when you're not here to put it right - it just depresses me, and I think it's no good being engaged for months & months & months, because there'll still be the everlasting question "When are you going to be married?" - and how do I know Terrick will ever be able to earn more money, because he's been trying with all his might for nearly a year now.
But I don't think like this often - only when you're away long enough for my family to show me what they call "sense".
Sunday 27 December 2015
27th December 1935 - Terrick to Mary
Wensley Rectory
Leyburn
Yorks
27th December 1935
My Darling,
Your presents were wonderful; thank you very, very much for them: I include the gloves. But, darling, you are far to generous!
The pullover has been well approved. It looks very nice with my O.A. tie. I wore them all Christmas day and have worn the tie ever since, though it is too warm for the pullover now that the snow is all gone.
It is very nice being here, but I couldn't stand it for long. On Christmas Day sitting down to meals in the dining-room with family portraits on the wall, silver forks that the family have used since George III, and an air of spaciousness, I felt: here is peace & dignity; this is how life should be lived; but listening to the parents talking repels me; and I realise that either their outlook is the result of this peace & dignity or vice versa. I much prefer the mental spaciousness of my little room to the physical spaciousness of Wensley Rectory. A peaceful life is a bad thing, and comfort a vice. At any rate the resulting stagnation here is pitiable.
Tonight I am going to a Conservative (!) Ball at Ripon as Penelope Cook-Yarborough's partner. Several people from round here are going so it ought to be good fun.
In market at Leyburn this morning I met a lot of old friends including Ruby and her husband & Betty Topham, the girl who was married up here the same day as Eileen. She has a son now.
Tomorrow we shall probably go into Darlington to see "Anna Karenina", & to look for a Between-maid. We have been stuck without one over Xmas.
My father managed to drive the car into Leyburn this morning, but he has his arm in plaster of Paris and can't do much with it. Renny held the plate of wafers for him at the Communion services on Sunday.
Several times I have tried to remember a piece of poetry that I wanted to say to you, but could never manage it. I have found it now; here it is:
Last night my cheek was wetted with warm tears,
Each worth a world. They fell from eyes divine
Last night a loving lip was pressed to mine,
And at its touch fled all the barren years;
And softly couched upon a bosom white,
Which came and went beneath me like a sea,
An emperor I lay in empire bright,
Lord of the beating heart, while tenderly
Love-words were glutting my love-greedy ears
Kind Love, I thank thee for that happy night!
Richer this cheek with those warm tears of thine
Than the vast midnight with its gleaming spheres.
Leander toiling through the midnight brine,
Kingdomless Antony, were scarce my peers.
It is by Alexander Smith. I am very fond of it, particularly now, because it reminds me of you.
I have thought of you all the time this Christmas & wished you were here. I do hope you are having a jolly time among your turbulent family.
Renny and I leave Harrogate at 6.10p.m. and arrive at King's Cross at 10.45 on Sunday evening, so I'm afraid it will be too late for you to come up. I'll ring you up on Monday night.
Goodbye, Sweetheart, for the present. It seems ages since I have seen you, but we'll soon make up for it. You'll come to dinner at 35 on the 31st, won't you.
Mummy and Renny have both queried the spelling of "appalling" at the same moment, though they are each writing separate "thanking" letters.
They want me to write to Aunt Aggie before the post goes, so I'll have to stop now.
All my heart, darling;
Your
Terrick
XXX
Leyburn
Yorks
27th December 1935
My Darling,
Your presents were wonderful; thank you very, very much for them: I include the gloves. But, darling, you are far to generous!
The pullover has been well approved. It looks very nice with my O.A. tie. I wore them all Christmas day and have worn the tie ever since, though it is too warm for the pullover now that the snow is all gone.
It is very nice being here, but I couldn't stand it for long. On Christmas Day sitting down to meals in the dining-room with family portraits on the wall, silver forks that the family have used since George III, and an air of spaciousness, I felt: here is peace & dignity; this is how life should be lived; but listening to the parents talking repels me; and I realise that either their outlook is the result of this peace & dignity or vice versa. I much prefer the mental spaciousness of my little room to the physical spaciousness of Wensley Rectory. A peaceful life is a bad thing, and comfort a vice. At any rate the resulting stagnation here is pitiable.
Tonight I am going to a Conservative (!) Ball at Ripon as Penelope Cook-Yarborough's partner. Several people from round here are going so it ought to be good fun.
In market at Leyburn this morning I met a lot of old friends including Ruby and her husband & Betty Topham, the girl who was married up here the same day as Eileen. She has a son now.
Tomorrow we shall probably go into Darlington to see "Anna Karenina", & to look for a Between-maid. We have been stuck without one over Xmas.
My father managed to drive the car into Leyburn this morning, but he has his arm in plaster of Paris and can't do much with it. Renny held the plate of wafers for him at the Communion services on Sunday.
Several times I have tried to remember a piece of poetry that I wanted to say to you, but could never manage it. I have found it now; here it is:
Last night my cheek was wetted with warm tears,
Each worth a world. They fell from eyes divine
Last night a loving lip was pressed to mine,
And at its touch fled all the barren years;
And softly couched upon a bosom white,
Which came and went beneath me like a sea,
An emperor I lay in empire bright,
Lord of the beating heart, while tenderly
Love-words were glutting my love-greedy ears
Kind Love, I thank thee for that happy night!
Richer this cheek with those warm tears of thine
Than the vast midnight with its gleaming spheres.
Leander toiling through the midnight brine,
Kingdomless Antony, were scarce my peers.
It is by Alexander Smith. I am very fond of it, particularly now, because it reminds me of you.
I have thought of you all the time this Christmas & wished you were here. I do hope you are having a jolly time among your turbulent family.
Renny and I leave Harrogate at 6.10p.m. and arrive at King's Cross at 10.45 on Sunday evening, so I'm afraid it will be too late for you to come up. I'll ring you up on Monday night.
Goodbye, Sweetheart, for the present. It seems ages since I have seen you, but we'll soon make up for it. You'll come to dinner at 35 on the 31st, won't you.
Mummy and Renny have both queried the spelling of "appalling" at the same moment, though they are each writing separate "thanking" letters.
They want me to write to Aunt Aggie before the post goes, so I'll have to stop now.
All my heart, darling;
Your
Terrick
XXX
Wednesday 23 December 2015
23rd December 1935 - Mary to Terrick
Dearest Ticky - I can't write you a very nice Christmas letter because the rush and turmoil of the day is putting everything nice out of my head - If you don't want a tie like this they said they'd change it for you. But I took your pullover with me to find a blue one to match it, & couldn't find anything - & couldn't find anything - & I thought this went quite well.
- I wish I was up at Wensley with you - it seems funny to think I shall have spent 4 Christmas days which haven't been half as nice as the first 17 of my life. I miss you so much more on a special occasion.
- Give Ren-ren my love and think of me as much as I shall think of you - it will be so nice when it's next Sunday.
All my love
Your
Mary Pleasant xxx
I see your new case is quite as big as your old one which was a bit silly of me - but I was obsessed with the idea that you must have room to lay a suit flat in it - & anyway - it's a bit more respectable.
- I wish I was up at Wensley with you - it seems funny to think I shall have spent 4 Christmas days which haven't been half as nice as the first 17 of my life. I miss you so much more on a special occasion.
- Give Ren-ren my love and think of me as much as I shall think of you - it will be so nice when it's next Sunday.
All my love
Your
Mary Pleasant xxx
I see your new case is quite as big as your old one which was a bit silly of me - but I was obsessed with the idea that you must have room to lay a suit flat in it - & anyway - it's a bit more respectable.
23rd December 1935 - Terrick to Mary
Darling,
A Merry Christmas!
I hope you will like these things. If you have read "The Heart of London" I will change it; I haven't written in it. At the time of writing I haven't managed to get the white grease paint. If I can I'll put it in. I'll phone you tonight (if you are opening this on Xmas day!) and, at the longest, I'll see you on Thursday. Come to dinner with me first as we only have to be at Onslow Gardens at 9.0 p.m.
All my heart, dear
Terrick
XXXXXX
A Merry Christmas!
I hope you will like these things. If you have read "The Heart of London" I will change it; I haven't written in it. At the time of writing I haven't managed to get the white grease paint. If I can I'll put it in. I'll phone you tonight (if you are opening this on Xmas day!) and, at the longest, I'll see you on Thursday. Come to dinner with me first as we only have to be at Onslow Gardens at 9.0 p.m.
All my heart, dear
Terrick
XXXXXX
Thursday 17 December 2015
17th December 1935 - Mary to Terrick
O.V.S.
Dearest Heart - I love you very much - but unfortunately have no time in which to impress this fact upon you - as a thousand and two things are rapping upon my conscience waiting to be done.
Thank you for your letter - and Bodil's address etc. I should still like greasepaints for Christmas - because I wanted them really for all time - & hadn't connected them with the pantomime.
- I bought your Xmas present home today & will send it off on Friday - Whoopee!
- Am taking elocution mistress up to Chelsea Palace Nativity Play tomorrow afternoon - so shall be round about your district at I suppose 5.30ish. If I see the slightest possibility of dropping in I will - but it's rather doubtful.
- If I don't, darling, will you ring up sometime about 10.0?
- I must see or hear you before Thursday.
All my love - sorry about scrawl -
Mary
xxx
P.S. I see lots of flatlet houses in today's Telegraph - arn't any any good?
Dearest Heart - I love you very much - but unfortunately have no time in which to impress this fact upon you - as a thousand and two things are rapping upon my conscience waiting to be done.
Thank you for your letter - and Bodil's address etc. I should still like greasepaints for Christmas - because I wanted them really for all time - & hadn't connected them with the pantomime.
- I bought your Xmas present home today & will send it off on Friday - Whoopee!
- Am taking elocution mistress up to Chelsea Palace Nativity Play tomorrow afternoon - so shall be round about your district at I suppose 5.30ish. If I see the slightest possibility of dropping in I will - but it's rather doubtful.
- If I don't, darling, will you ring up sometime about 10.0?
- I must see or hear you before Thursday.
All my love - sorry about scrawl -
Mary
xxx
P.S. I see lots of flatlet houses in today's Telegraph - arn't any any good?
Wednesday 16 December 2015
16th December 1935 - Terrick to Mary
16th Dec 1935
My Darling Mary Pleasant,
Please excuse the pencil. I have only just enough ink left in my pen to address the envelope. This evening I got part of your present. I have not yet got the grease-paints because it has struck me that if you are not going in for the pantomime and may not be doing a show for some time perhaps there is something you would prefer. Write and let me know, dear, and also the make of bathe cubes for your mother.
Wednesday is all right, darling, so will you come if you can get away? Be here at any time. I shall be back at about quarter to six. Tomorrow evening Renny & I are going to dinner with Aunt Mildred.
A letter has just arrived from Eileen in which she says: "Please thank Mary for her nice letter and tell her I'll write before long, & tell her that Bodil's address for Xmas is:
HAMMEL
TYLLAND
DENMARK."
She & Herbert are going way for Xmas to escape a host of in-laws whom Ma Kühne has invited. They are going to the Harz Mountains and will probably do some winter sports. Isn't it terrible how everybody seems to be going to winter sports.
Even Renny, a dyed-in-the-wool, die-hard, true-blue Tory is shocked by the Governments "Peace Plan".
I have given off the film to be developed & reloaded.
Phyllis Bodker is going to ask a friend of hers who is high up in her business to give me an interview; but I think she will get the sack before she gets a chance to do so. Apparently she is always late.
If you do come on Wednesday, dear, we shall finish improving the Schwaneberg film for Wensley. It won't take us very long but it will be better than having nothing whatever to do. At the present moment our sub attraction for each other is much the strongest, and we must find something to do in common. I'll hear you your Eager Heart part; but it is much better for us to start doing something that will take us some time to do Preparing the order of the shots of our other big film will be a good thing, and thinking out the sub-titles for it; but we might do something else too. Otherwise when we are married you will be sitting in your chair doing one thing & I'll be in another chair doing something totally different. I know, of course, that we can't do thing together all the time, & that most other couples are separate except in the necessities of life & their evening's amusements; but those things are just the "human" things. It is the quiet hobbies & interests of the idle mind that are the "super" things. Perhaps we shall find these when we have every evening to do so, but it would be better to start now. I'd like to join the Bedford Park A.D. because acting is your great interest and it is a mild one of mine that could be developed if you would show me how to act properly. I think though, I'll so that after we are married. At the moment my time & money is all going towards getting married to you.
I must stop now and catch the post.
Goodnight my love.
Terrick
XXX
Wednesday 9 December 2015
9th December 1935 - Terrick to Mary
35 Nevern Place
S.W.5.
9th December 1935
My Darling Mary,
Uncle Bill's letter arrived this morning. The first paragraph ends: "I have studied your business proposition an I am willing to provide the £300 required" you could have knocked me down with a feather if I hadn't been in bed. He went on to make queries for two whole pages and ended up: "Anyhow if after consultation with your lawyer [I told him I should put the case in a lawyer's hands] you are still convinced it is a good business you may rely on me to produce the £300. Isn't he a sport!
But, here comes the anti-climax, dear. I am not going on with it, because I have discovered the snag. Though the advertisement and the agents leaflet talks about "Purchase price £900" - there is a rent of £275 per annul in addition. I had to get the agent to explain it several times over the phone before I understood this apparent contradiction in terms, and he could have put it quite plainly the fist time if he had wanted to, because it is quite simple. £900 is the price of the flatlet business. £275 per annum is the rent of the building. So that's off. The net profits at their maximum only come to £320 per annum plus £60 for my living rent & fare free. I should never be able to pay off Uncle Bill & the mortgage and do repairs at that rate.
The only way to do it is either to buy a leasehold flatlet business on a long lease or free-hold, or just buy a house and start the flatlet business in it.
I have gained a lot of useful knowledge about house buying since this time last Monday night when I saw the advert, and, better still, I have found out that Uncle Bill will put up several hundreds for a reasonable proposition.
I am sorry, my pen has run out.
I am afraid I shan't be able to let you know for some time about doing the door on Friday week would this Friday be time enough.
After dinner I went round to Renny to tell him the latest news and found that Nancy was there. They were playing "L'Attaque"!
If you hear of any good spec going, don't forget to let me know. My old difficulty of no capital doesn't exist any more. The job of having to prove the enterprise sound first in order to get the capital is just the brake needed.
Tomorrow fortnight I shall go to bed in my room at Wensley. it is so lovely waking up in the country. Especially at Wensley where the view out of the window is so peaceful and sedative. It is a year since I have been there. Next time we shall be engaged and go together. Probably for my next holiday.
The post goes in quarter of an hour so I must stop. I have only half concocted my letter to Uncle Bill. I am not telling him the exact reason for my not thinking the business worth going on with. It sounds too much the kind of thing I ought to have seen at once. Live and learn. I am glad I did not find out before writing to him. It comes of being form lucky.
Goodbye, my darling, till Wednesday at 5 o'clock.
Terrick
S.W.5.
9th December 1935
My Darling Mary,
Uncle Bill's letter arrived this morning. The first paragraph ends: "I have studied your business proposition an I am willing to provide the £300 required" you could have knocked me down with a feather if I hadn't been in bed. He went on to make queries for two whole pages and ended up: "Anyhow if after consultation with your lawyer [I told him I should put the case in a lawyer's hands] you are still convinced it is a good business you may rely on me to produce the £300. Isn't he a sport!
But, here comes the anti-climax, dear. I am not going on with it, because I have discovered the snag. Though the advertisement and the agents leaflet talks about "Purchase price £900" - there is a rent of £275 per annul in addition. I had to get the agent to explain it several times over the phone before I understood this apparent contradiction in terms, and he could have put it quite plainly the fist time if he had wanted to, because it is quite simple. £900 is the price of the flatlet business. £275 per annum is the rent of the building. So that's off. The net profits at their maximum only come to £320 per annum plus £60 for my living rent & fare free. I should never be able to pay off Uncle Bill & the mortgage and do repairs at that rate.
The only way to do it is either to buy a leasehold flatlet business on a long lease or free-hold, or just buy a house and start the flatlet business in it.
I have gained a lot of useful knowledge about house buying since this time last Monday night when I saw the advert, and, better still, I have found out that Uncle Bill will put up several hundreds for a reasonable proposition.
I am sorry, my pen has run out.
I am afraid I shan't be able to let you know for some time about doing the door on Friday week would this Friday be time enough.
After dinner I went round to Renny to tell him the latest news and found that Nancy was there. They were playing "L'Attaque"!
If you hear of any good spec going, don't forget to let me know. My old difficulty of no capital doesn't exist any more. The job of having to prove the enterprise sound first in order to get the capital is just the brake needed.
Tomorrow fortnight I shall go to bed in my room at Wensley. it is so lovely waking up in the country. Especially at Wensley where the view out of the window is so peaceful and sedative. It is a year since I have been there. Next time we shall be engaged and go together. Probably for my next holiday.
The post goes in quarter of an hour so I must stop. I have only half concocted my letter to Uncle Bill. I am not telling him the exact reason for my not thinking the business worth going on with. It sounds too much the kind of thing I ought to have seen at once. Live and learn. I am glad I did not find out before writing to him. It comes of being form lucky.
Goodbye, my darling, till Wednesday at 5 o'clock.
Terrick
Saturday 28 November 2015
28th November 1935 - Terrick to Mary
28th November 1935
Darling,
Just a scribble before I dash out to my dinner (smelling terribly of some disgusting chemical - probably "non-shino"). I am terribly sorry, but do you mind fearfully if you don't come to the staff do tomorrow. The situation is now impossible. We are eighteen and twelve are girls. So there will be six girls - half the total number - sitting out at every dance. Having got up the show I couldn't leave them to it while I danced with you, so it wouldn't be much fun for you. I am awfully sorry, I'll try and make up for it by dancing extra well at Hounslow.
I rang you up at 6.15 to tell you, but you were out.
My suit has had the shine very well removed from all parts except the underside of the forearms. But the smell! It's rather like crushed almonds.
I have got the films. Yours is called "slightly under" and "much under" but the first 4 or 5 scenes look perfect to me. Both shots of the milestone are under-exposed for the background though the stone itself is alright. "A Family-Film" for which I forgot the close-up attachment hasn't come out at all. The title film is called "good"! The only one we have had without a qualifying "slightly over or under". They look perfect. I have also got a super-reel for the film to go on.
I must fly.
Goodbye, darling. I am so sorry about tomorrow, having once invited you.
All my love, body, soul and spirit (if there's any difference).
Terrick
XXX
Darling,
Just a scribble before I dash out to my dinner (smelling terribly of some disgusting chemical - probably "non-shino"). I am terribly sorry, but do you mind fearfully if you don't come to the staff do tomorrow. The situation is now impossible. We are eighteen and twelve are girls. So there will be six girls - half the total number - sitting out at every dance. Having got up the show I couldn't leave them to it while I danced with you, so it wouldn't be much fun for you. I am awfully sorry, I'll try and make up for it by dancing extra well at Hounslow.
I rang you up at 6.15 to tell you, but you were out.
My suit has had the shine very well removed from all parts except the underside of the forearms. But the smell! It's rather like crushed almonds.
I have got the films. Yours is called "slightly under" and "much under" but the first 4 or 5 scenes look perfect to me. Both shots of the milestone are under-exposed for the background though the stone itself is alright. "A Family-Film" for which I forgot the close-up attachment hasn't come out at all. The title film is called "good"! The only one we have had without a qualifying "slightly over or under". They look perfect. I have also got a super-reel for the film to go on.
I must fly.
Goodbye, darling. I am so sorry about tomorrow, having once invited you.
All my love, body, soul and spirit (if there's any difference).
Terrick
XXX
Thursday 26 November 2015
26th November 1935 - Mary to Terrick
There are gaps in this letter as it has been torn up and pasted back together
Tuesday
Darling - This place is like an express train with the staff as the fuel to be stoked on continuously, and the fire is only allowed to die down when there is nothing more for it to do. The bright spot in today was an hour and a half's lacrosse with the team - but among the worst spots have been taking three forms together for Old Testament (26 books to be corrected!) - having to run down to town 3 times on errands for Miss X - bashing at the ... on the kitchen range ... until I looked like ...
getting 5 babes to write ... letters in 10 minutes to an ... - and helping Miss X ment a bustle table with hundreds of more important things crying out to be done. Whoopee!
I went to the rehearsal yesterday & sang lustily till I was blue in the face - it was great fun & Brown was there (he's going to be the hind legs of the horse). I shall be in general chorus - Mrs Amor invigilated at the audition of the others, they seem a very nice lot. Will tell you all about it tomorrow.
- We don't need to go anywhere tomorrow - I'm jolly ... going to be brow beaten ... out every time ... you. But we'll make it a rule that I leave at 9.30. (it seems to decorous if I leave before you).
You will be glad to hear that my "marriage ferocity" has passed off having lasted exactly thirteen days - let's hope any reocurrences (sic) will be as short - because I couldn't have stood much more of it.
However I feel much better now and am gradually regaining consciousness! (Mummy arranged my convalescence, I may add!)
I don't think they'd like to go out on Sat. ... Sunday - but ... to go to tea with ... - Only I don't suppose we ... hope to have the car again (they're not to favourably disposed to the "Formitz" alliance at the moment!) - We shall have to go by train then - think it's possible from Wimbledon - or bus from Kingston.
- The Brondesbury pack thing sounds nice too.
- I'll see you tomorrow about 6. then unless I hear from you - What about Hiscokes?
- (But ... - I was forgetting - I'm not particularly keen on marrying you at the moment - am I?)
All my love
Mary P
P.S. Can you do the ...
TEN GROSS
Tuesday
Darling - This place is like an express train with the staff as the fuel to be stoked on continuously, and the fire is only allowed to die down when there is nothing more for it to do. The bright spot in today was an hour and a half's lacrosse with the team - but among the worst spots have been taking three forms together for Old Testament (26 books to be corrected!) - having to run down to town 3 times on errands for Miss X - bashing at the ... on the kitchen range ... until I looked like ...
getting 5 babes to write ... letters in 10 minutes to an ... - and helping Miss X ment a bustle table with hundreds of more important things crying out to be done. Whoopee!
I went to the rehearsal yesterday & sang lustily till I was blue in the face - it was great fun & Brown was there (he's going to be the hind legs of the horse). I shall be in general chorus - Mrs Amor invigilated at the audition of the others, they seem a very nice lot. Will tell you all about it tomorrow.
- We don't need to go anywhere tomorrow - I'm jolly ... going to be brow beaten ... out every time ... you. But we'll make it a rule that I leave at 9.30. (it seems to decorous if I leave before you).
You will be glad to hear that my "marriage ferocity" has passed off having lasted exactly thirteen days - let's hope any reocurrences (sic) will be as short - because I couldn't have stood much more of it.
However I feel much better now and am gradually regaining consciousness! (Mummy arranged my convalescence, I may add!)
I don't think they'd like to go out on Sat. ... Sunday - but ... to go to tea with ... - Only I don't suppose we ... hope to have the car again (they're not to favourably disposed to the "Formitz" alliance at the moment!) - We shall have to go by train then - think it's possible from Wimbledon - or bus from Kingston.
- The Brondesbury pack thing sounds nice too.
- I'll see you tomorrow about 6. then unless I hear from you - What about Hiscokes?
- (But ... - I was forgetting - I'm not particularly keen on marrying you at the moment - am I?)
All my love
Mary P
P.S. Can you do the ...
TEN GROSS
Wednesday 25 November 2015
25th November 1935 - Terrick to Mary
35 Nevern Place
S.W.5.
25th November 1935
Darling One,
I have started on the film and have pieced together about half the various shots, ignoring the subtitles. I have put in the whole of each shot, so we shall have to run it through on the projector and cut out bits where the shot seems to go on for too long and so interrupts the swing of the thing. It is an infuriating job and my language has been vile. I ordered a reel for 180ft in the lunch hour but one has to have 300ft.
Miss West hasn't sent me a card about Thursday yet, though it doesn't matter in my case. I find I have still got your Group Theatre paper.
When you come on Wednesday, dear, please bring up the Show Book. It is due back. I'm afraid I shan't be able to prolong it again.
It has been bitterly cold today. My old radiator can't cope with it.
Let me know the date of your mother's birthday and what you think she would like this year.
I must stop now. I really had nothing to say, but I wanted to talk to you, and to make you think of me tomorrow morning. I like doing the film twice as much as I should if it were all mine because I feel I am working in partnership with you, even when I am fiddling with it alone in my room.
When we get engaged can we have a party to celebrate it? But I don't know, after all, that I should like that; no, I know I shouldn't. What I should like would be going to a cocktail party at your Grandmother's just as ordinary guests and being engaged. We should feel much more one among all the others even than we do now; perhaps because everybody else would be recognising it.
Going among my own relations wouldn't be nearly so nice because they're not a bit romantically or sentimentally inclined. With them it would be: "what are you going to live on?" I shall refer them to "The Chimes". It will be great!
S.W.5.
25th November 1935
Darling One,
I have started on the film and have pieced together about half the various shots, ignoring the subtitles. I have put in the whole of each shot, so we shall have to run it through on the projector and cut out bits where the shot seems to go on for too long and so interrupts the swing of the thing. It is an infuriating job and my language has been vile. I ordered a reel for 180ft in the lunch hour but one has to have 300ft.
Miss West hasn't sent me a card about Thursday yet, though it doesn't matter in my case. I find I have still got your Group Theatre paper.
When you come on Wednesday, dear, please bring up the Show Book. It is due back. I'm afraid I shan't be able to prolong it again.
It has been bitterly cold today. My old radiator can't cope with it.
Let me know the date of your mother's birthday and what you think she would like this year.
I must stop now. I really had nothing to say, but I wanted to talk to you, and to make you think of me tomorrow morning. I like doing the film twice as much as I should if it were all mine because I feel I am working in partnership with you, even when I am fiddling with it alone in my room.
When we get engaged can we have a party to celebrate it? But I don't know, after all, that I should like that; no, I know I shouldn't. What I should like would be going to a cocktail party at your Grandmother's just as ordinary guests and being engaged. We should feel much more one among all the others even than we do now; perhaps because everybody else would be recognising it.
Going among my own relations wouldn't be nearly so nice because they're not a bit romantically or sentimentally inclined. With them it would be: "what are you going to live on?" I shall refer them to "The Chimes". It will be great!
Wednesday 18 November 2015
18th November 1935 - Terrick to Mary
35 Nevern Place
S.W.5.
18th November 1935
Darling,
How did you get on at the first rehearsal? And how did Mrs Amor behave?
This evening I brought home the Titling Outfit and have been playing with it like a child. There is all the necessary for making black lettering on white backgrounds and white lettering on black backgrounds, which is much better. I made on title, white on black:
I am dying to make them and photograph them. Darling, having had to pay for it I am rather broke. Would it be enough for your family if we went to see "The March of Time" at the theatre, and spent the rest of the time making titles for our films. We can't actually photograph them till I get the right electric bulbs but we could decide what ones we want and how to word them.
Darling, on Saturday afternoon I want to go to a show of Amateur films at the Exhibition of Kinematography at the Royal Photographic Society, Russell Square. Would you like to come.
Also, I have received a notice of the Brondesbury Ciné Society's public show. Do come with me to that on either the 6th, 7th or 8th December.
Today I had lunch with Paul. His descriptions of life in Eno's made me laugh, it is so totally different from the mean, cheese-paring way in which the Poly treats its staff. I am lunching with him again on Wednesday.
Today we had a Reunion Conference and nearly everything is fixed for all the Reunion concerts.
I expected Renny round this evening but he hasn't turned up yet.
You and I are invited to tea at the Paul Corboulds' on Sunday. Can we go? It would be great fun. I am dying to see their flat.
Apropos of that, we can't possibly get married this summer, because we shan't have the money for furniture or honeymoon. Brenda had a suite of bedroom furniture, but the rest of it cost Paul £65. The honeymoon would cost another £50. The actual ceremony would be about £5 for me, apart from new clothes. Possess your soul in patience, dear, a little while, and we'll do it without hampering the deed itself with money cares. They will come fast enough later.
It makes me smile to remember how whenever I said how impatient I was to get married, you said you wouldn't marry me in any case for - at first - five years, then three years; and now, though you can't be more impatient than I am, you want it immediately regardless of the consequences. Remember, I told you you would.
It is bitterly cold this evening. Thank heaven, I don't have to go to any more music hall shows. We are not having any of the turns you saw at Grosvenor House, but we are getting Lloyd Shakespeare to provide the Western Brothers. There is still just a possibility that we shall have his band.
Mary dear, I must stop now. I have got to write about shirt collars, & answer two adverts.
I love you very much, and all my thoughts and energies are directed towards the day when we shan't have to say "Good-night".
Your loving
Terrick
S.W.5.
18th November 1935
Darling,
How did you get on at the first rehearsal? And how did Mrs Amor behave?
This evening I brought home the Titling Outfit and have been playing with it like a child. There is all the necessary for making black lettering on white backgrounds and white lettering on black backgrounds, which is much better. I made on title, white on black:
A
FORMITZ
FILM
I am dying to make them and photograph them. Darling, having had to pay for it I am rather broke. Would it be enough for your family if we went to see "The March of Time" at the theatre, and spent the rest of the time making titles for our films. We can't actually photograph them till I get the right electric bulbs but we could decide what ones we want and how to word them.
Darling, on Saturday afternoon I want to go to a show of Amateur films at the Exhibition of Kinematography at the Royal Photographic Society, Russell Square. Would you like to come.
Also, I have received a notice of the Brondesbury Ciné Society's public show. Do come with me to that on either the 6th, 7th or 8th December.
Today I had lunch with Paul. His descriptions of life in Eno's made me laugh, it is so totally different from the mean, cheese-paring way in which the Poly treats its staff. I am lunching with him again on Wednesday.
Today we had a Reunion Conference and nearly everything is fixed for all the Reunion concerts.
I expected Renny round this evening but he hasn't turned up yet.
You and I are invited to tea at the Paul Corboulds' on Sunday. Can we go? It would be great fun. I am dying to see their flat.
Apropos of that, we can't possibly get married this summer, because we shan't have the money for furniture or honeymoon. Brenda had a suite of bedroom furniture, but the rest of it cost Paul £65. The honeymoon would cost another £50. The actual ceremony would be about £5 for me, apart from new clothes. Possess your soul in patience, dear, a little while, and we'll do it without hampering the deed itself with money cares. They will come fast enough later.
It makes me smile to remember how whenever I said how impatient I was to get married, you said you wouldn't marry me in any case for - at first - five years, then three years; and now, though you can't be more impatient than I am, you want it immediately regardless of the consequences. Remember, I told you you would.
It is bitterly cold this evening. Thank heaven, I don't have to go to any more music hall shows. We are not having any of the turns you saw at Grosvenor House, but we are getting Lloyd Shakespeare to provide the Western Brothers. There is still just a possibility that we shall have his band.
Mary dear, I must stop now. I have got to write about shirt collars, & answer two adverts.
I love you very much, and all my thoughts and energies are directed towards the day when we shan't have to say "Good-night".
Your loving
Terrick
Saturday 14 November 2015
14th November 1935 - Mary to Terrick
O.V.S.
Thursday
- Dearest Dear, Life is Bloody at the moment - I've got a tummy-ache and I haven't seen you for such a long time - (it does make an awful difference, doesn't it?) - Three people have 'phoned me up in the middle of lessons today - Andrew to arrange to take me home to vote - Wilkinson to invite me up to his Father's flat at Lancaster Gate to dinner this evening - and you. The maids think I'm keeping a male harem - and I'm still in the same position as I was - listening to two hours New Testament with a tummy-ache!
Miss Olsson is still in bed, so I took her lessons this afternoon and what with prep from 5-6. I'm feeling appallingly disagreeable and haven't had any tea.
- Oh - Ticky darling - I can't go on like this - it seems weeks since I saw you, and yesterday evening was awful at home with them all playing bridge - and then Matron crowned it all by taking your letter that came for me at 9.0 up to bed with her to give me in the morning - so I might have had it to go to bed with just when I needed it last night.
Norah & Teddy called in at home for tea on Monday and didn't even think of calling on me - I do hate everybody!!
I was telling Grannie Hiscoke's was closing down and she said they'd probably be pulling all those shops down soon to widen the road just there - so that's worth bearing in mind.
I'm on duty this Saturday because of Miss Olsson - and don't get off till about 5.0. If it's wet the children have been promised to go to Cardinal Richelieu on Sat. afternoon - but if it's dry, couldn't we go in the evening? Mummy wants me to come home but it's so late, and Jack & Jill are going out to a dance with the car. I suppose you - oh - no, Mummy would think I was crackers.
- But I simply must see you soon - I was hoping you wouldn't be doing anything on Friday - but I forgot Grosvenor House.
Grannie's horrified you're a Socialist - & possibly won't own anyone who'd in favour of nationalising everything!!
It is so stupid about the letters, it makes me go hot all over too.
I've lost my fountain-pen as well - curse it.
Have taken dislike to Helen Attlee who looked down her nose to me on Monday because she's going to a dance at Claridge's.
Why have you got this Sat. morning off instead? What are you going to do - Oh - gosh - darling - if only I could see you now - it's horrible having to bottle myself up like this with noone to talk to and no weekend to look forward to - I shall have to marry someone soon - or bust!
- Dearest of dears - tell me I'm a fool & that I shall feel better tomorrow - but there seems to be an ache in my heart which grows & grows.
Perhaps I've been spoilt.
Love
Mary
xxx
Thursday
- Dearest Dear, Life is Bloody at the moment - I've got a tummy-ache and I haven't seen you for such a long time - (it does make an awful difference, doesn't it?) - Three people have 'phoned me up in the middle of lessons today - Andrew to arrange to take me home to vote - Wilkinson to invite me up to his Father's flat at Lancaster Gate to dinner this evening - and you. The maids think I'm keeping a male harem - and I'm still in the same position as I was - listening to two hours New Testament with a tummy-ache!
Miss Olsson is still in bed, so I took her lessons this afternoon and what with prep from 5-6. I'm feeling appallingly disagreeable and haven't had any tea.
- Oh - Ticky darling - I can't go on like this - it seems weeks since I saw you, and yesterday evening was awful at home with them all playing bridge - and then Matron crowned it all by taking your letter that came for me at 9.0 up to bed with her to give me in the morning - so I might have had it to go to bed with just when I needed it last night.
Norah & Teddy called in at home for tea on Monday and didn't even think of calling on me - I do hate everybody!!
I was telling Grannie Hiscoke's was closing down and she said they'd probably be pulling all those shops down soon to widen the road just there - so that's worth bearing in mind.
I'm on duty this Saturday because of Miss Olsson - and don't get off till about 5.0. If it's wet the children have been promised to go to Cardinal Richelieu on Sat. afternoon - but if it's dry, couldn't we go in the evening? Mummy wants me to come home but it's so late, and Jack & Jill are going out to a dance with the car. I suppose you - oh - no, Mummy would think I was crackers.
- But I simply must see you soon - I was hoping you wouldn't be doing anything on Friday - but I forgot Grosvenor House.
Grannie's horrified you're a Socialist - & possibly won't own anyone who'd in favour of nationalising everything!!
It is so stupid about the letters, it makes me go hot all over too.
I've lost my fountain-pen as well - curse it.
Have taken dislike to Helen Attlee who looked down her nose to me on Monday because she's going to a dance at Claridge's.
Why have you got this Sat. morning off instead? What are you going to do - Oh - gosh - darling - if only I could see you now - it's horrible having to bottle myself up like this with noone to talk to and no weekend to look forward to - I shall have to marry someone soon - or bust!
- Dearest of dears - tell me I'm a fool & that I shall feel better tomorrow - but there seems to be an ache in my heart which grows & grows.
Perhaps I've been spoilt.
Love
Mary
xxx
Friday 13 November 2015
12th & 13th November 1935 - Terrick to Mary
35 Nevern Place
S.W. 5
12th November 1935
My Own Darling,
I expect my pen to run out of ink at any moment.
Tonight is an early night for me, the only one this week. Yesterday my Jewish theatrical agent had to call off going round with me so I went round by myself by bus & tube. First I visited Collins' Music Hall, Islington, one of the few real old music halls left. I sat between a tiny old man who was munching something between a nose and a chin that were only kept from knocking together at each munch by his moustache, and an enormously fat woman who, every time she turned in my direction, directed at me a blast of beery breath that nearly scorched the side of my face. The show was very vulgar and not a bit funny. AS soon as I had seen the Armour Boys, the turn I had come to see, I left and took a bus to the Empire, Hackney where I arrived just in time for the second house only to find that every seat was taken. I could have stood but the photographs outside didn't look worth it, so I came home. I could have come on a 30 bus practically from door to door, but I had left my weekend suitcase at the garage next to the Poly so had to go back for it.
Tonight I was going to the Windmill Theatre but I had some difficulty in getting free seats so I had a good look at the photographs outside. If the dancers "Michel & Hero" had been at all likely I should have been justified in taking in that for the last house, after my Short Story class, but they were very undressed so I didn't bother.
Andy wasn't at the class. I walked part of the way back with a rather nice girl who sits next to me. She is acting the heroine in an amateur cine film. Tomorrow I have got to visit more music halls. On Thursday Rutland and I go to the Albert Hall; on Friday we are both going to Grosvenor House. As he is coming I shan't be able to take you, dear, but we shall most probably only be just able to go in for the cabaret and come out afterwards as it is a private show and it would be rather forward to stay on.
On Saturday I am going to see a concert party at a Reunion Dinner given by Waterlow's the printers to their staff.
I am going to try and get an afternoon off in exchange for giving up all these evenings.
This afternoon at quarter-to-five I had a very amusing visit to a queer barrister in Lincoln's In . I think he was mad. it is too long a story to tell in a letter so I'll describe it all to you when I see you - when?
Did you go to the B.D.L. yesterday?
After leaving the sinister barrister I went to Hotel-Plan, a new Swiss touring agency of a new kind. I could not get an interview but was asked to write in. I can't find Raymond & Whitcomb's address in the telephone book. No stone, my dear, shall be left unturned.
I am writing this sitting up in bed in my dressing-gown.
This morning I phoned Renny to ask what prices the letters had fetched and whether they had been low enough for him to bid. The stupid boy hadn't even got a catalogue so that he didn't know which letters were in which lot. The first lot had fetched £4.10s0d and Renny hadn't bid at all though we agreed to go up to £5 between us! And there were not enough bids for the second lot so it was withdrawn. So the silly little fool has let half of them go at a price we could, at the worst, have beaten up higher.
And as for my father who put no reserve on them, he ranks with Esau who sold his birth-right for a mess of pottage. Four pounds, ten shillings!
I told Renny that he was a lunatic, that I was very angry, and rang off.
I haven't been so disgusted at anything for years.
Wednesday
I've got your letter. I like the book-shop idea and shall call on Mrs Hiscoke directly I can get down to Richmond.
I'm afraid the Poly don't give people rises because they get married. June 1937 is only a "latest date"; if we can get married before then all the better.
I am writing this in Selfridges Help-Yourself Restaurant so it can't be very nice the atmosphere is all wrong.
I have just heard that a band I particularly want to hear is performing at the Hippodrome, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, this week, so as tonight's engagements are the ones I can cut easiest I am catching the 3.20 train and getting back to London at midday tomorrow.
I love you with all my heart and soul. Every thought of mine is towards bringing our Wedding-day to the earliest possible date.
Terrick
S.W. 5
12th November 1935
My Own Darling,
I expect my pen to run out of ink at any moment.
Tonight is an early night for me, the only one this week. Yesterday my Jewish theatrical agent had to call off going round with me so I went round by myself by bus & tube. First I visited Collins' Music Hall, Islington, one of the few real old music halls left. I sat between a tiny old man who was munching something between a nose and a chin that were only kept from knocking together at each munch by his moustache, and an enormously fat woman who, every time she turned in my direction, directed at me a blast of beery breath that nearly scorched the side of my face. The show was very vulgar and not a bit funny. AS soon as I had seen the Armour Boys, the turn I had come to see, I left and took a bus to the Empire, Hackney where I arrived just in time for the second house only to find that every seat was taken. I could have stood but the photographs outside didn't look worth it, so I came home. I could have come on a 30 bus practically from door to door, but I had left my weekend suitcase at the garage next to the Poly so had to go back for it.
Tonight I was going to the Windmill Theatre but I had some difficulty in getting free seats so I had a good look at the photographs outside. If the dancers "Michel & Hero" had been at all likely I should have been justified in taking in that for the last house, after my Short Story class, but they were very undressed so I didn't bother.
Andy wasn't at the class. I walked part of the way back with a rather nice girl who sits next to me. She is acting the heroine in an amateur cine film. Tomorrow I have got to visit more music halls. On Thursday Rutland and I go to the Albert Hall; on Friday we are both going to Grosvenor House. As he is coming I shan't be able to take you, dear, but we shall most probably only be just able to go in for the cabaret and come out afterwards as it is a private show and it would be rather forward to stay on.
On Saturday I am going to see a concert party at a Reunion Dinner given by Waterlow's the printers to their staff.
I am going to try and get an afternoon off in exchange for giving up all these evenings.
This afternoon at quarter-to-five I had a very amusing visit to a queer barrister in Lincoln's In . I think he was mad. it is too long a story to tell in a letter so I'll describe it all to you when I see you - when?
Did you go to the B.D.L. yesterday?
After leaving the sinister barrister I went to Hotel-Plan, a new Swiss touring agency of a new kind. I could not get an interview but was asked to write in. I can't find Raymond & Whitcomb's address in the telephone book. No stone, my dear, shall be left unturned.
I am writing this sitting up in bed in my dressing-gown.
This morning I phoned Renny to ask what prices the letters had fetched and whether they had been low enough for him to bid. The stupid boy hadn't even got a catalogue so that he didn't know which letters were in which lot. The first lot had fetched £4.10s0d and Renny hadn't bid at all though we agreed to go up to £5 between us! And there were not enough bids for the second lot so it was withdrawn. So the silly little fool has let half of them go at a price we could, at the worst, have beaten up higher.
And as for my father who put no reserve on them, he ranks with Esau who sold his birth-right for a mess of pottage. Four pounds, ten shillings!
I told Renny that he was a lunatic, that I was very angry, and rang off.
I haven't been so disgusted at anything for years.
Wednesday
I've got your letter. I like the book-shop idea and shall call on Mrs Hiscoke directly I can get down to Richmond.
I'm afraid the Poly don't give people rises because they get married. June 1937 is only a "latest date"; if we can get married before then all the better.
I am writing this in Selfridges Help-Yourself Restaurant so it can't be very nice the atmosphere is all wrong.
I have just heard that a band I particularly want to hear is performing at the Hippodrome, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, this week, so as tonight's engagements are the ones I can cut easiest I am catching the 3.20 train and getting back to London at midday tomorrow.
I love you with all my heart and soul. Every thought of mine is towards bringing our Wedding-day to the earliest possible date.
Terrick
Thursday 12 November 2015
12th November 1935 - Mary to Terrick
O.V.S.
Tuesday
Darling - How are you. I had thought of phoning you after 10.0 but have decided on early bath & bed; as Miss Olsson is in bed all this week on a diet, and it's not much fun sitting knitting all alone (Hasty. P. out at pictures).
I was sitting on end of Miss O's bed this evening when Miss X came up too, and we confabbed for nearly an hour on odd subjects. One being that the book shop down the hill from which we buy all school books - and founded in 1840 is having to give up as the old man has died and his wife (quite a friend of Miss X's) says she can't compete with Smiths - (no wonder, as the whole show is antiquated as the year dot). So Miss X proposed you & I should rent the shop and work it up again as it's very well known in Richmond and ought to be quite a paying concern if brought up to date & handled properly. We'd let them sell out all their stock (masses of 2nd hand books & rubbish) and just least the building - let the flat over the top - take one for ourselves in Lichfield Court - have all latest books - invite authors down to lecture - do all stationary for the school - and open a travel agency for Poly (who haven't got one in Richmond) - and get all our clients to travel every summer!!! Miss X thinks all that's needed is a little initiative - and if we considered it seriously(or even if not) she suggests, just for fun, your calling in there on Mrs Hiscocke (the shop is Hiscocke's - exactly opposite the Town Hall) - not mentioning any names, & saying you've heard she is going to sell & how much does she want - or what's the rent? - Because it's a pity such an old & well known firm should be allowed to disappear from Richmond all together.
- So there you are! - Except that we're both such asses! - But I think you as manager of the travel agency would be jolly good - & Miss Olsson & I have thought of hundreds of things Smiths doesn't stock that we could keep.
- And another thing I've thought of quite seriously & decided upon - is that it would be quite as easy to get married next summer as the summer after - I'll get my job at £2 next holidays and you can get your rise out of the Poly by next June easily - because you're getting married. Your family must give you a £100 for a wedding present - £50 for the flat - and £50 for the honeymoon - and by then we can have saved between us £27 - and we can get engaged next Easter - or perhaps a bit before and I'll come and stay at Wensley again over Easter weekend!! - and God help us both!!!
- I don't think I could wait - darling heart - I love you so much -
your
Mary Pleasant
xxx
I feel last page needs some explanation - so I'll just add that I shall probably be in my right mind again tomorrow!!
- But don't even you think it might possibly be possible?
- Shall be at home tomorrow evening until 9.30.
Tuesday
Darling - How are you. I had thought of phoning you after 10.0 but have decided on early bath & bed; as Miss Olsson is in bed all this week on a diet, and it's not much fun sitting knitting all alone (Hasty. P. out at pictures).
I was sitting on end of Miss O's bed this evening when Miss X came up too, and we confabbed for nearly an hour on odd subjects. One being that the book shop down the hill from which we buy all school books - and founded in 1840 is having to give up as the old man has died and his wife (quite a friend of Miss X's) says she can't compete with Smiths - (no wonder, as the whole show is antiquated as the year dot). So Miss X proposed you & I should rent the shop and work it up again as it's very well known in Richmond and ought to be quite a paying concern if brought up to date & handled properly. We'd let them sell out all their stock (masses of 2nd hand books & rubbish) and just least the building - let the flat over the top - take one for ourselves in Lichfield Court - have all latest books - invite authors down to lecture - do all stationary for the school - and open a travel agency for Poly (who haven't got one in Richmond) - and get all our clients to travel every summer!!! Miss X thinks all that's needed is a little initiative - and if we considered it seriously(or even if not) she suggests, just for fun, your calling in there on Mrs Hiscocke (the shop is Hiscocke's - exactly opposite the Town Hall) - not mentioning any names, & saying you've heard she is going to sell & how much does she want - or what's the rent? - Because it's a pity such an old & well known firm should be allowed to disappear from Richmond all together.
- So there you are! - Except that we're both such asses! - But I think you as manager of the travel agency would be jolly good - & Miss Olsson & I have thought of hundreds of things Smiths doesn't stock that we could keep.
- And another thing I've thought of quite seriously & decided upon - is that it would be quite as easy to get married next summer as the summer after - I'll get my job at £2 next holidays and you can get your rise out of the Poly by next June easily - because you're getting married. Your family must give you a £100 for a wedding present - £50 for the flat - and £50 for the honeymoon - and by then we can have saved between us £27 - and we can get engaged next Easter - or perhaps a bit before and I'll come and stay at Wensley again over Easter weekend!! - and God help us both!!!
- I don't think I could wait - darling heart - I love you so much -
your
Mary Pleasant
xxx
I feel last page needs some explanation - so I'll just add that I shall probably be in my right mind again tomorrow!!
- But don't even you think it might possibly be possible?
- Shall be at home tomorrow evening until 9.30.
Thursday 29 October 2015
29th October 1935 - Mary to Terrick
O.V.S.
Tuesday
Darling - thank you for your letter - I haven't had one from anybody at all at breakfast time for 3 weeks! It was lovely to sit on my bed and relish it.
I shall be longing to hear about Paul's job tomorrow - if anything else has happened! - It would be wonderful if you could both walk off from the Poly into £300 a year.
I have just phoned Jack & he says he'll bring the car up to Richmond for us tomorrow - which will save us a lot of time - won't it? - It may be left at school or in the station yard - so I'll meet you in the yard (District side) at 1.45p.m having had lunch - Jack's going to put the projector in it - so I hope he locks up!
- Oh - it'll be marvellous if it's fine. I'm longing for it. Today is such a lousy day.
- I met Mrs Eriksen yesterday (who's apparently to have a first-born) - she says Carlton is coming down to the Shakespeare on Thursday week - so I shall miss that lecture instead of this week's as I had thought of doing.
- Miss X is just about to take the 5 of us to Tilly of Bloomsbury at the Richmond Theatre as F. Hoppe's farewell party - That'll mean bed at midnight once more! It's a great life!
- It's a good job we continue to love each other in spite of everything. I hate to think of the egotistical little beasts our children will be - Perhaps a crêche would be better -
All my love
Yours
Mary P.
xxx
Tuesday
Darling - thank you for your letter - I haven't had one from anybody at all at breakfast time for 3 weeks! It was lovely to sit on my bed and relish it.
I shall be longing to hear about Paul's job tomorrow - if anything else has happened! - It would be wonderful if you could both walk off from the Poly into £300 a year.
I have just phoned Jack & he says he'll bring the car up to Richmond for us tomorrow - which will save us a lot of time - won't it? - It may be left at school or in the station yard - so I'll meet you in the yard (District side) at 1.45p.m having had lunch - Jack's going to put the projector in it - so I hope he locks up!
- Oh - it'll be marvellous if it's fine. I'm longing for it. Today is such a lousy day.
- I met Mrs Eriksen yesterday (who's apparently to have a first-born) - she says Carlton is coming down to the Shakespeare on Thursday week - so I shall miss that lecture instead of this week's as I had thought of doing.
- Miss X is just about to take the 5 of us to Tilly of Bloomsbury at the Richmond Theatre as F. Hoppe's farewell party - That'll mean bed at midnight once more! It's a great life!
- It's a good job we continue to love each other in spite of everything. I hate to think of the egotistical little beasts our children will be - Perhaps a crêche would be better -
All my love
Yours
Mary P.
xxx
Wednesday 28 October 2015
28th October 1935 - Terrick to Mary
35 Nevern Place
S.W.5
28th October 1935
My Darling,
All to-day I have felt so sleepy I could hardly work at all. I saw Renny this evening and apparently he was just the same We must have over-eaten yesterday . It has been a very sleepy day: 61 in the shade and I have been sitting in thick clothes next to a blazing stove.
No news from Oxford. Also there was at first a little snag about my getting away on Wednesday but I think it is O.K. now.
We had a lovely weekend. I now look forward to the day I can take you out to a dance in your blue evening dress and earrings. You look just like what, in my least Communistic moments, I have always wanted my wife to look like, seated at the opposite end of a long dinner table gleaming with mahogany and silver, with our guests on each side, being gracious and entertaining and admired by all the company.
K.W. is getting his film tomorrow. Could I get the projector & "Out for a Row" & "Keeping Cool" on Wednesday and give them back to you on Thursday?
I have just written home & told them all about the rise and the job in Oxford.
Paul was very bucked about his rise, but May has put him onto a job at £300 a year that he believes he can get because one of the firms that do our printing is to do the choosing (it is an advertising job) & they like him very much. There is only one other candidate! I do hope he gets it - & that I do too, so that e both leave together & give the Poly a jolt. I should think that Paul's chance of getting his job was better than mine for the Oxford one.
I must stop now, dear, and get on with my new story. It is the ghost one, about the girl who came to the house that her own ghost was haunting - or rather, as it turns out, her ancestor's ghost.
Just now you are a the British Drama League expressing sound ideas and generally distinguishing yourself. See if there isn't, among all those things advertised in the hall, some group that you could get into that would be useful.
I love you very much. You are very good for me. It is just as well we can't get married now. You need to break me of all my bad habits before you marry me. It'll be more difficult afterwards.
Goodnight, darling.
from your
Terrick
who loves you.
S.W.5
28th October 1935
My Darling,
All to-day I have felt so sleepy I could hardly work at all. I saw Renny this evening and apparently he was just the same We must have over-eaten yesterday . It has been a very sleepy day: 61 in the shade and I have been sitting in thick clothes next to a blazing stove.
No news from Oxford. Also there was at first a little snag about my getting away on Wednesday but I think it is O.K. now.
We had a lovely weekend. I now look forward to the day I can take you out to a dance in your blue evening dress and earrings. You look just like what, in my least Communistic moments, I have always wanted my wife to look like, seated at the opposite end of a long dinner table gleaming with mahogany and silver, with our guests on each side, being gracious and entertaining and admired by all the company.
K.W. is getting his film tomorrow. Could I get the projector & "Out for a Row" & "Keeping Cool" on Wednesday and give them back to you on Thursday?
I have just written home & told them all about the rise and the job in Oxford.
Paul was very bucked about his rise, but May has put him onto a job at £300 a year that he believes he can get because one of the firms that do our printing is to do the choosing (it is an advertising job) & they like him very much. There is only one other candidate! I do hope he gets it - & that I do too, so that e both leave together & give the Poly a jolt. I should think that Paul's chance of getting his job was better than mine for the Oxford one.
I must stop now, dear, and get on with my new story. It is the ghost one, about the girl who came to the house that her own ghost was haunting - or rather, as it turns out, her ancestor's ghost.
Just now you are a the British Drama League expressing sound ideas and generally distinguishing yourself. See if there isn't, among all those things advertised in the hall, some group that you could get into that would be useful.
I love you very much. You are very good for me. It is just as well we can't get married now. You need to break me of all my bad habits before you marry me. It'll be more difficult afterwards.
Goodnight, darling.
from your
Terrick
who loves you.
Thursday 15 October 2015
15th October 1935 - Mary to Terrick
O.V.S.
Tuesday
Dearest Ticky
I am sitting on the floor in Miss Olsson's room waiting for the kettle to boil on her gas-ring - as I am in dire pain & feel it would be wise to bathe my arm. It is sill they way I get these things in awkward places.
I wanted to write to you yesterday, but couldn't gather my wits together enough to start. I've got such a lot to talk about, and I do love you so very much and it would be so nice to have getting married to look forward to - but I suppose I can't talk about it all here, and I can wait until I see you tomorrow.
Did you get that booklet of flats for me? - and have you got lots & lots of jobs at £400 p.a. offered you?
I know it's very silly wanting to get married so badly - specially as I said I wouldn't until I was 25! - and of course I do, in my heart of hearts, realize it would be quite out of the question until we'd got £350 - £400 a year. But it's all your fault I'm so excited about it - and there's no harm in working it out and pretending - is there?
It was lovely on Sunday - thank you so much for it - It was the sort of day I can always look back on hen I want something specially nice to think of.
The children were very good on Monday & we all enjoyed Cadby Hall - Mummy & Jill came too which made it nicer - but I was very tired in the evening - & missed my B.D.L. class, as I was alone in the house until 8.15.
I do hope it's lovely at the Dorchester this evening - thank goodness we hadn't arranged anything together for tonight - as I couldn't have gone because of my arm.
I've just got a good plot for a play I must tell you tomorrow a propos of conversations overheard this evening.
Tomorrow I am lunching with Mummy, Jill, Auntie Marianne & Helen Attlee at Derry & Toms - I don't know whether we shall do anything afterwards, but I'll be at Nevern Place by 6 anyway plus knitting!
Darling - I'm very very sorry I'm such a hussy - of course I know it's wrong - but it seems to be one of those things which is wrong in theory - but exonerates itself in practice. The one thing that really haunts me, is the fear of shocking you so much that you'll never love me any more - and I think perhaps every time you say we mustn't, something inside me gets a bit - just a little bit - frightened - especially when I feel it's been my fault.
- Very dearest dear - just at the moment I really velieve I love you too much ever to do anything you thought was wrong.
- So keep me good!
Your
Mary Pleasant
xxx
P.S. Shall certainly vote Conservative - heard odious Labour man expounding coarse views in low and vulgar manner - I think dignity counts for a lot in this world (of the right kind)
Tuesday
Dearest Ticky
I am sitting on the floor in Miss Olsson's room waiting for the kettle to boil on her gas-ring - as I am in dire pain & feel it would be wise to bathe my arm. It is sill they way I get these things in awkward places.
I wanted to write to you yesterday, but couldn't gather my wits together enough to start. I've got such a lot to talk about, and I do love you so very much and it would be so nice to have getting married to look forward to - but I suppose I can't talk about it all here, and I can wait until I see you tomorrow.
Did you get that booklet of flats for me? - and have you got lots & lots of jobs at £400 p.a. offered you?
I know it's very silly wanting to get married so badly - specially as I said I wouldn't until I was 25! - and of course I do, in my heart of hearts, realize it would be quite out of the question until we'd got £350 - £400 a year. But it's all your fault I'm so excited about it - and there's no harm in working it out and pretending - is there?
It was lovely on Sunday - thank you so much for it - It was the sort of day I can always look back on hen I want something specially nice to think of.
The children were very good on Monday & we all enjoyed Cadby Hall - Mummy & Jill came too which made it nicer - but I was very tired in the evening - & missed my B.D.L. class, as I was alone in the house until 8.15.
I do hope it's lovely at the Dorchester this evening - thank goodness we hadn't arranged anything together for tonight - as I couldn't have gone because of my arm.
I've just got a good plot for a play I must tell you tomorrow a propos of conversations overheard this evening.
Tomorrow I am lunching with Mummy, Jill, Auntie Marianne & Helen Attlee at Derry & Toms - I don't know whether we shall do anything afterwards, but I'll be at Nevern Place by 6 anyway plus knitting!
Darling - I'm very very sorry I'm such a hussy - of course I know it's wrong - but it seems to be one of those things which is wrong in theory - but exonerates itself in practice. The one thing that really haunts me, is the fear of shocking you so much that you'll never love me any more - and I think perhaps every time you say we mustn't, something inside me gets a bit - just a little bit - frightened - especially when I feel it's been my fault.
- Very dearest dear - just at the moment I really velieve I love you too much ever to do anything you thought was wrong.
- So keep me good!
Your
Mary Pleasant
xxx
P.S. Shall certainly vote Conservative - heard odious Labour man expounding coarse views in low and vulgar manner - I think dignity counts for a lot in this world (of the right kind)
Wednesday 7 October 2015
7th October 1935 - Mary to Terrick
O.V.S.
Monday
Darling - Dearest Dear - and Best Beloved (as this isn't going to be a long one I can afford to be extravagant without fear of reiteration) -
Here is 24/6. - don't look aghast, and raise your eye-brows or crease your forehead - because I'm going to explain it in a minute -
10/- is instalment on projector - eight days overdue - and only paid now under fearsome pressure of thought that the "police" might be involved if I didn't!
4/6. I owe you. 5/- minus 6d for syllabus - (which I must remember to pay for) - and thank you very much for putting your hand in your pocket so readily - I'll try not to do it very often -
And the last 10/- (God guard my banking a/c) is for Paul's present - I had to send it to you now, because it might possibly have departed this life by Wednesday - none knowing less than I, where it had gone.
I am writing off to that Dramatic school tonight - but I don't suppose they'll have evening classes. Have you asked about the B.D.L. course yet? - Try and wangle us in cheaply - I'm sure you could.
- I had a most amazing & vivid dream last night that it was my wedding day - only the church was so big that the relations were miles away in the background - and I couldn't get near the altar because of three men cleaning the organ, which was in pieces everywhere - and I spent the whole dream running backwards & forwards talking first to Mummy & then passing the time of day with these men - and tying & untying the bow of my long white frock which was cut in the pattern of my blue nightie - waiting for you - After ages and ages of waiting I woke up and was very cross - but I seemed to half go to sleep again and you were there, patting me on the shoulder, but I was a bit annoyed because, instead of looking at me, you kept on swearing at the men cleaning the organ! It was very strange.
- I'm longing to show you how I've altered my navy blue evening dress - it's most successful, I think. I can't wear anything underneath it and it's skin tight - & I look magnificent!! - I put it on before I went to bed last night and wished you were there.
Miss O (Patricia) & I are going to pictures tomorrow night - to see Ralph Lynn & T Walls in "Fighting Stock" - I've never seen them!
- Must stop - for any reason you like to imagine.
- This is far more than you deserve - but I couldn't stop - & I loved your letter this morning.
It's a tremendous life - although it's such a long time till 5.30 Wednesday.
All my love for ever & ever
Mary Pleasant
xxx
Monday
Darling - Dearest Dear - and Best Beloved (as this isn't going to be a long one I can afford to be extravagant without fear of reiteration) -
Here is 24/6. - don't look aghast, and raise your eye-brows or crease your forehead - because I'm going to explain it in a minute -
10/- is instalment on projector - eight days overdue - and only paid now under fearsome pressure of thought that the "police" might be involved if I didn't!
4/6. I owe you. 5/- minus 6d for syllabus - (which I must remember to pay for) - and thank you very much for putting your hand in your pocket so readily - I'll try not to do it very often -
And the last 10/- (God guard my banking a/c) is for Paul's present - I had to send it to you now, because it might possibly have departed this life by Wednesday - none knowing less than I, where it had gone.
I am writing off to that Dramatic school tonight - but I don't suppose they'll have evening classes. Have you asked about the B.D.L. course yet? - Try and wangle us in cheaply - I'm sure you could.
- I had a most amazing & vivid dream last night that it was my wedding day - only the church was so big that the relations were miles away in the background - and I couldn't get near the altar because of three men cleaning the organ, which was in pieces everywhere - and I spent the whole dream running backwards & forwards talking first to Mummy & then passing the time of day with these men - and tying & untying the bow of my long white frock which was cut in the pattern of my blue nightie - waiting for you - After ages and ages of waiting I woke up and was very cross - but I seemed to half go to sleep again and you were there, patting me on the shoulder, but I was a bit annoyed because, instead of looking at me, you kept on swearing at the men cleaning the organ! It was very strange.
- I'm longing to show you how I've altered my navy blue evening dress - it's most successful, I think. I can't wear anything underneath it and it's skin tight - & I look magnificent!! - I put it on before I went to bed last night and wished you were there.
Miss O (Patricia) & I are going to pictures tomorrow night - to see Ralph Lynn & T Walls in "Fighting Stock" - I've never seen them!
- Must stop - for any reason you like to imagine.
- This is far more than you deserve - but I couldn't stop - & I loved your letter this morning.
It's a tremendous life - although it's such a long time till 5.30 Wednesday.
All my love for ever & ever
Mary Pleasant
xxx
Tuesday 6 October 2015
6th October 1935 - Mary to Terrick
Home
7 p.m.
Darling - I don't seem to be able to settle down to anything - everybody's playing bridge - my feet are frozen and I'm very tired (having done nothing all day!) - It's just in moments like this one, that everything would be entirely the opposite if you were here. I should feel wide awake - you could rub my feet for me - and i should feel like doing heaps of things instead of leaning back in a chair, all by myself with everybody all round me, thinking about you (which can be very bad for me).
I was going to try and work up some enthusiasm to knit - but you are too much with me for that.
We've seen more of each other in the last few weeks than ever before (except for Schwaneberg) - and I suppose it's natural that the more I have the more I want. You give me just that complete feeling, by being in the same place with me - that I have wanted so often ever since I was at school. I used to work myself up sometimes in to contemplating jumping from the dormitory window! - and often into running home to get warm again - I don't work myself up quite so much now I'm grown up - but the thoughts that used to run round & round then, are still there - you know - "Why are we here?" "Where are we going?" "What are we?" - Government, Love, War and Death!
But gradually, in the last two years I've thought about them differently - because you're so sensible - I know you think about things like this too - but you look at them as causes & effects - and you reason things out and learn about them. When I worry now, I think of writing to you or coming & seeing you - and it makes me laugh, because you wouldn't give my worries two thoughts sometimes - you'd roar with laughter - or tell me it was just what everybody else worried about! (I love you when you tell me I'm just like everybody else!)
But nowadays - if you walk into a room - or meet me in a street - or sit beside me in a theatre - or if I walk into your room something from you seems to come into me, which it's almost impossible to explain.
- Something in me which is always stretched tight as a protection against everything else in the world, suddenly loosens itself and I feel safe & peaceful and supremely content. That's why I feel so much better when we part again - because my string has had a rest!
- Darling - I love you more than I ever believed I could love anyone - and deeper - you go to the very roots of me - and it's all the more wonderful because I know the "super" far outshines the "sub" - and the "human" is as sure as socks!
This is stupid - & I must catch the post.
But it's rather difficult to explain verbally to someone why you want to be near them always - and do and think things with them - and try things with them - and sleep with them -
So I thought I'd get it off my chest in writing - because I've got it rather badly tonight!
- I haven't enough self-control really, have I?
- But you love me - so I must be all right in some ways!
Your Mary
XXX
7 p.m.
Darling - I don't seem to be able to settle down to anything - everybody's playing bridge - my feet are frozen and I'm very tired (having done nothing all day!) - It's just in moments like this one, that everything would be entirely the opposite if you were here. I should feel wide awake - you could rub my feet for me - and i should feel like doing heaps of things instead of leaning back in a chair, all by myself with everybody all round me, thinking about you (which can be very bad for me).
I was going to try and work up some enthusiasm to knit - but you are too much with me for that.
We've seen more of each other in the last few weeks than ever before (except for Schwaneberg) - and I suppose it's natural that the more I have the more I want. You give me just that complete feeling, by being in the same place with me - that I have wanted so often ever since I was at school. I used to work myself up sometimes in to contemplating jumping from the dormitory window! - and often into running home to get warm again - I don't work myself up quite so much now I'm grown up - but the thoughts that used to run round & round then, are still there - you know - "Why are we here?" "Where are we going?" "What are we?" - Government, Love, War and Death!
But gradually, in the last two years I've thought about them differently - because you're so sensible - I know you think about things like this too - but you look at them as causes & effects - and you reason things out and learn about them. When I worry now, I think of writing to you or coming & seeing you - and it makes me laugh, because you wouldn't give my worries two thoughts sometimes - you'd roar with laughter - or tell me it was just what everybody else worried about! (I love you when you tell me I'm just like everybody else!)
But nowadays - if you walk into a room - or meet me in a street - or sit beside me in a theatre - or if I walk into your room something from you seems to come into me, which it's almost impossible to explain.
- Something in me which is always stretched tight as a protection against everything else in the world, suddenly loosens itself and I feel safe & peaceful and supremely content. That's why I feel so much better when we part again - because my string has had a rest!
- Darling - I love you more than I ever believed I could love anyone - and deeper - you go to the very roots of me - and it's all the more wonderful because I know the "super" far outshines the "sub" - and the "human" is as sure as socks!
This is stupid - & I must catch the post.
But it's rather difficult to explain verbally to someone why you want to be near them always - and do and think things with them - and try things with them - and sleep with them -
So I thought I'd get it off my chest in writing - because I've got it rather badly tonight!
- I haven't enough self-control really, have I?
- But you love me - so I must be all right in some ways!
Your Mary
XXX
6th October 1935 - Terrick to Mary
35 Nevern Place
S.W. 5
6th October 1935
Dear Little Mary,
I am sitting by my radiator very happily writing to you. Happy partly because I am writing to you, and partly because I have done a satisfying day's work.
One short story ready for typing and another, "Minter's Conscience" nearly ready. There is one thing lacking to the first and that is a title. I can think of two: "The Portent" and "A Secret from the Dead", but neither of them is very good. I started the story sometime about 1930 and have added bits at intervals of about a year ever since, but I had no idea until today how it was to end.
I have another idea for half of a plot, the first half. the setting is the Midland Hotel, Morecombe Bay (under some fictions) and placed at Fort William. At lunch time on a fine sunny day at the height of the season a young man rushes into the reception office with his eyes rolling, and declares that his bedroom is haunted! What do you think of that?
I have worked out the plot for a good way but not yet as far as the end.
The other day when I was in the room where Miss Seamans (Managing Director's Secretary) & Miss Saville (Edie's successor as General Manager's Secretary) work. The latter was entering up the times of arrival in the morning and told be that I had been late twice in the last fortnight. I said: "Lack of interest".
Miss Seamans expressed surprise and asked why. I told her: not enough money and no prospects. She said: perhaps they'll create a position for you. I laughed at the idea and I think this provoked her to say more than she meant to, because she went on to say that "she thought" that the branches in the provinces were going to be extended that I ought to get a branch manager's job. From the way she said it I am pretty sure that she wasn't talking about what she thought might happen, but what she knew was being contemplated by the Man.Dir.
I pretended not to notice this & tactfully conveyed that any such prospect would immediately restore my interest. I wonder very much what is afoot and in the how-near future it may come off.
I'll find out how much we pay the branch managers. I think it is £300 to £350 a year plus commission amounting to another £100. Their offices consist of themselves and a girl, who gets about £1 a week. Work in the winter is practically nil. We might run a branch between us.
Have you sent me 10/- in your letter? The instalment should have been paid yesterday. If you haven't it doesn't matter. They'll wait a few days.
I am looking forward to dancing with you again. The last time we danced together was at the Eden Hotel, Berlin, wasn't it? And the time before that was at the Preussenhof (I don't think that was the name) at Stettin. Magical days!
It is funny how I get to love you more and more when I thought at Nice that I couldn't possibly love you more than I did then. To survive an absence of nine months when it was only in it's initial stages it must have been very strong then, so you can imagine what it is like now.
It is right that after my frivolous record I should have had to wait some time before I can marry you. Just to give me a chance of proving to myself and everybody that it is the real thing this time. Even my mother who always joked about my hotel-like heart doesn't doubt it now.
I enclose a cutting from "The Observer" that may interest you. it might be worth writing to. Perhaps they have evening courses.
Good night, darling. I am looking forward to your letter in the morning, so I don't feel as though I have to say Goodbye till Wednesday.
All my heart.
Your
Terrick
S.W. 5
6th October 1935
Dear Little Mary,
I am sitting by my radiator very happily writing to you. Happy partly because I am writing to you, and partly because I have done a satisfying day's work.
One short story ready for typing and another, "Minter's Conscience" nearly ready. There is one thing lacking to the first and that is a title. I can think of two: "The Portent" and "A Secret from the Dead", but neither of them is very good. I started the story sometime about 1930 and have added bits at intervals of about a year ever since, but I had no idea until today how it was to end.
I have another idea for half of a plot, the first half. the setting is the Midland Hotel, Morecombe Bay (under some fictions) and placed at Fort William. At lunch time on a fine sunny day at the height of the season a young man rushes into the reception office with his eyes rolling, and declares that his bedroom is haunted! What do you think of that?
I have worked out the plot for a good way but not yet as far as the end.
The other day when I was in the room where Miss Seamans (Managing Director's Secretary) & Miss Saville (Edie's successor as General Manager's Secretary) work. The latter was entering up the times of arrival in the morning and told be that I had been late twice in the last fortnight. I said: "Lack of interest".
Miss Seamans expressed surprise and asked why. I told her: not enough money and no prospects. She said: perhaps they'll create a position for you. I laughed at the idea and I think this provoked her to say more than she meant to, because she went on to say that "she thought" that the branches in the provinces were going to be extended that I ought to get a branch manager's job. From the way she said it I am pretty sure that she wasn't talking about what she thought might happen, but what she knew was being contemplated by the Man.Dir.
I pretended not to notice this & tactfully conveyed that any such prospect would immediately restore my interest. I wonder very much what is afoot and in the how-near future it may come off.
I'll find out how much we pay the branch managers. I think it is £300 to £350 a year plus commission amounting to another £100. Their offices consist of themselves and a girl, who gets about £1 a week. Work in the winter is practically nil. We might run a branch between us.
Have you sent me 10/- in your letter? The instalment should have been paid yesterday. If you haven't it doesn't matter. They'll wait a few days.
I am looking forward to dancing with you again. The last time we danced together was at the Eden Hotel, Berlin, wasn't it? And the time before that was at the Preussenhof (I don't think that was the name) at Stettin. Magical days!
It is funny how I get to love you more and more when I thought at Nice that I couldn't possibly love you more than I did then. To survive an absence of nine months when it was only in it's initial stages it must have been very strong then, so you can imagine what it is like now.
It is right that after my frivolous record I should have had to wait some time before I can marry you. Just to give me a chance of proving to myself and everybody that it is the real thing this time. Even my mother who always joked about my hotel-like heart doesn't doubt it now.
I enclose a cutting from "The Observer" that may interest you. it might be worth writing to. Perhaps they have evening courses.
Good night, darling. I am looking forward to your letter in the morning, so I don't feel as though I have to say Goodbye till Wednesday.
All my heart.
Your
Terrick
Sunday 27 September 2015
27th September 1935 - Mary to Terrick
Old Vicarage School
Richmond
Sept. 27th 1935
- Very dearest dear - I have nothing much to write about as is somewhat natural, but I feel I owe you the 140th - and this is the only way I can relieve my feelings in moments of stress, not that I'm in a "moment of stress" at the moment - but I may be before Sunday at 7., so I'm taking a precaution!
I have just had a lovely bath and put on this week's clean clothes as I'm going up to school tomorrow. It's nearly dinner time. Our new cook doesn't come here till the end of next week so Miss Olsson & I are going to cook the dinner one day next week!
I'm going to give Flip one of those 5/- Brownie cameras for his birthday - if you want to give him something small as we're going out with him on Tuesday - he'll want a film for it - or if you gave him a seat for a cinema he'd love it. (I'm only trying to be helpful!)
It's after supper now.
Miss O. & myself had planned to go to "David Copperfield" but Miss X came in and started on the timetable which sends us all crazy and wears Miss X's nerves to shreds. She suggested changing my full day to Monday - & I jibbed a bit - & she said I was inconsiderate - having every Saturday & Sunday off - & we all got a bit peeved but it's fixed up all right now. Miss O & F. Hoppe went late to pictures. Hasty P. went out & I settled stubbornly down to more timetable. Miss X has just been in made me feel all in the wrong by apologizing & offering me some grapes - & when I've posted this - I'm damn well going to bed!! This week's been an eternity - & at the moment I feel too inefficient to stay here another!
I had a p.c. from Bernays this morning saying he's preaching away on Sunday evening - & would come to lunch - so it'll be easy to get away. - also a letter from Miss Frost inviting me to tea with her at the American Tea to tell her all about Norah!
You haven't given me that letter for the customs yet. Mummy will be champing soon - we'd better do it on Sunday. Do remind me - because by the time Sunday evening comes & I can put my nose under your coat collar again, I shan't be responsible for my actions!
Its a great life! But I'm not sure that sometimes it's not much too great - it becomes so difficult to handle!
Dearest Heart, I love you fundamentally, sublimely, & ridiculously with all of me.
Yours - because you're you - Mary xxx
Richmond
Sept. 27th 1935
- Very dearest dear - I have nothing much to write about as is somewhat natural, but I feel I owe you the 140th - and this is the only way I can relieve my feelings in moments of stress, not that I'm in a "moment of stress" at the moment - but I may be before Sunday at 7., so I'm taking a precaution!
I have just had a lovely bath and put on this week's clean clothes as I'm going up to school tomorrow. It's nearly dinner time. Our new cook doesn't come here till the end of next week so Miss Olsson & I are going to cook the dinner one day next week!
I'm going to give Flip one of those 5/- Brownie cameras for his birthday - if you want to give him something small as we're going out with him on Tuesday - he'll want a film for it - or if you gave him a seat for a cinema he'd love it. (I'm only trying to be helpful!)
It's after supper now.
Miss O. & myself had planned to go to "David Copperfield" but Miss X came in and started on the timetable which sends us all crazy and wears Miss X's nerves to shreds. She suggested changing my full day to Monday - & I jibbed a bit - & she said I was inconsiderate - having every Saturday & Sunday off - & we all got a bit peeved but it's fixed up all right now. Miss O & F. Hoppe went late to pictures. Hasty P. went out & I settled stubbornly down to more timetable. Miss X has just been in made me feel all in the wrong by apologizing & offering me some grapes - & when I've posted this - I'm damn well going to bed!! This week's been an eternity - & at the moment I feel too inefficient to stay here another!
I had a p.c. from Bernays this morning saying he's preaching away on Sunday evening - & would come to lunch - so it'll be easy to get away. - also a letter from Miss Frost inviting me to tea with her at the American Tea to tell her all about Norah!
You haven't given me that letter for the customs yet. Mummy will be champing soon - we'd better do it on Sunday. Do remind me - because by the time Sunday evening comes & I can put my nose under your coat collar again, I shan't be responsible for my actions!
Its a great life! But I'm not sure that sometimes it's not much too great - it becomes so difficult to handle!
Dearest Heart, I love you fundamentally, sublimely, & ridiculously with all of me.
Yours - because you're you - Mary xxx
Friday 25 September 2015
25th September 1935 - Terrick to Mary
Lyons,
Marble Arch
25th September 1935
Darling,
Last night I was too tired when I got back home at 10.15 to do anything except go to bed. We had a fearful day.
Did I tell you that a letter was going out to clients asking them if they hadn't already let us have their criticisms to write them now? An insane idea. Well this letter went out on Monday, so yesterday we had 29 complaints - previous record 19. So we were pretty hard put to it.
That is nothing to what we have today. The complaints haven't been counted but they are somewhere around 50!
On Monday I went round the house where the meeting was supposed to be, & got no answer to my rings. The place as in darkness so I came home.
The story-writing class is quite interesting. The lecturer, Mr Dudeney, is not a good speaker but he talks a good deal of sense when he is coherent. Perhaps I was too tired to make enough effort to understand him.
The class is a funny mixture. Most of them look like Poly clients but there are one or two more interesting and authorly looking people.
I am not going to F.W., so I'll join the New Testament course for the whole time..
Have you seen "Sixteen". I have 1/- tickets for 4/- seats at the Q Theatre next week. Shall we go? What day is your day off?
_____________________________________
Office
I must stop now. I want you to get this letter tonight if possible.
I love you.
Your Terrick
XXX
Marble Arch
25th September 1935
Darling,
Last night I was too tired when I got back home at 10.15 to do anything except go to bed. We had a fearful day.
Did I tell you that a letter was going out to clients asking them if they hadn't already let us have their criticisms to write them now? An insane idea. Well this letter went out on Monday, so yesterday we had 29 complaints - previous record 19. So we were pretty hard put to it.
That is nothing to what we have today. The complaints haven't been counted but they are somewhere around 50!
On Monday I went round the house where the meeting was supposed to be, & got no answer to my rings. The place as in darkness so I came home.
The story-writing class is quite interesting. The lecturer, Mr Dudeney, is not a good speaker but he talks a good deal of sense when he is coherent. Perhaps I was too tired to make enough effort to understand him.
The class is a funny mixture. Most of them look like Poly clients but there are one or two more interesting and authorly looking people.
I am not going to F.W., so I'll join the New Testament course for the whole time..
Have you seen "Sixteen". I have 1/- tickets for 4/- seats at the Q Theatre next week. Shall we go? What day is your day off?
_____________________________________
Office
I must stop now. I want you to get this letter tonight if possible.
I love you.
Your Terrick
XXX
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