c/o Mrs Nicklin
The Close, Ashton-under-Hill
March 8th 1916
My dearest Cyril
This is the 10th day since I have been here – my patient has had seven harrowing deaths scenes in that time and has practically died each time but by a miracle seems at last to be on the mend. Each time Dr Leslie has been he has told me there is no hope – then today he came and congratulated me and said that I had saved her life, which I thought was very noble of him, considering it is he who has saved her life. It is a most distressing case but I am glad to have discovered that her fiancé is not the man to blame, he is such a good sort of fellow. I don’t know what will happen when he finds out – he has such faith in her.
Dr Leslie told the Mother today and she was absolutely paralysed for a moment, she too had such faith in her daughter. The whole case is heartbreaking and seems to have undermined my faith in mankind in general. I feel frightened at “Life” – it all seems so hard, the suffering women have to bear while men go scot free. I will write better letters, dear, when I get away from here – the atmosphere is not conducive to love letter writing!
I managed to get over to Badsey yesterday in the Nicklins’ car to fetch some clothes so at the same time opened my parcel from Port Said. I am simply delighted with my blouse materials – they are exquisite. I shall never have had such charming blouses before when they are made up.
I see in the papers that reinforcements have arrived in Southern Mesopotamia, so I wonder if you are sleeping in the Garden of Eden!
Best love from
Your devoted Mela
