Badsey
Evesham
Thurs Even
My dear Betty
The question is – shall I write you a few lines before bedtime, or shall I progress with your nightgown. I feel perhaps you would rather the first and not complain at the non-arrival of the latter. It is getting on, only the sleeves to put in and fasteners. I have done a silly thing but I shall not alter it (at any rate before Xmas). I have somehow or other made the neck rather tight but as I always see you with the top button undone (!) I do not mean to alter it. I never noticed until it was finished. I am sending you my blue dress, also a little lace in case you want to put something to heighten it. I do not think it ought to want altering unless to shorten it, if so tack it up the depth of present hem, it is quite loose for me in the waist, so I think you might squeeze into it. Don’t alter it more than possible. I think it will suit you well, I always liked the dress. I must mind to send the nightgown etc before Nov 1st when the postage goes up. You had better keep my dress in the cardboard box when not used.
Your letter to Brailsford on Tuesday morning arrived at a most opportune moment! He broke out again after what he said and we said! He seemed better for a day or two, but I feared at the end of the week he was drinking again, he seems so cantankerous and tiresome and eyes looked queer. Monday morning I saw him disappear round the top of the lane at 9.30 on his way back from breakfast! He appeared at work about 10, round the back way. I watched him go to dinner, and off he went down the road, he appeared about 2.30 and went on picking the pear-tree, he was not as bad as before, but I could see he had more than was good for him, I spoke very little to him. I went up and saw his wife before tea and asked her about him, and she said he was getting awful again, and had never quite stopped even when he told us he would. I went and tackled him after tea in the barn and had a long talk and told him he must give it up entirely and I said I did not know what you would think etc etc etc (!!) and that he must go home quietly and think things over seriously. He tried to argue a little and get round and out of it at first but I could see he was very ashamed. Well, next morning as I cooked breakfast he came and said of his own free will he meant to chuck it up really and truly and we might trust his word this time and he was quite his old self. When he came back after breakfast he brought your letter for me to see and was very delighted with it, I think you put things very well! He has been a different man since, so energetic, no grumbling and I do think he means it. Yesterday he worked well although I was out all day over French Flag Day work. This morning he had a postcard from Cyril which gave much pleasure too and Malcolm is getting on well and will be home soon for a day, he had been recruiting at Portsmouth the latest!
Well it’s bedtime, no time for other news, but I knew you would want to learn how things were going in connection with B.
Much love from
Ethel
