Aug 26th 1917
My own dear Cyril
I started a letter last week at Badsey and if I get back tomorrow I will add this to it.
Marion has jaundice. So I came up yesterday morning to relieve Ethel to go home as she had “one or two little things to do” over the weekend! Betty had a cold so it was not advisable for her to come, and May is away but will be returning tomorrow. Poor old Marion feels wretched and is the colour of a sovereign! And the worst of it is she cannot sleep. I told her if you knew, you would be most sympathetic, having had a miserable time with jaundice yourself once upon a time!
Ethel and I cooked yesterday for today so that I could give as much time as possible today to the invalid. There are only two plum-pickers here now and Miss Rawlins, a permanent boarder who has a sitting room of her own. She is Aunt to Marjorie Slater and Elsie Jarvis. The plum pickers are going early this week so May will not have too strenuous a time when she gets back from her holiday.
Dr Hathorn is attending Marion. He is a great botanist and every time he comes he takes a stroll round the garden to examine different trees. He says this garden contains an unique collection of rare trees.
I am expecting Ethel or Betty over this afternoon or evening to see how I am getting on – and if possible Ethel may stay the night and let me go back. It all depends on circumstances.
We are having very high winds just now, making plum-picking a hazardous task. However we are becoming like seasoned Jack Tars and can weather most gales.
The news from all fronts seems favourable in today’s paper. The Italians seem to be sweeping on.
I am rather tired, dear – but having an odd moment to spare I thought I’d scribble a few lines to my dear old man across the seas. I must go now and make some barley water.
With heaps of love.
Ever your devoted
Mela
