Читать книгу Arthur Conan Doyle: A Life in Letters - Daniel Stashower, Исмаил Шихлы - Страница 123

You are as bad as me for not answering questions. I want Letty’s address, also Annette’s, also Lottie’s permanent one. You never told me if James was thro’ though you once remarked that you were pleased about him, from which I infer he is. By all means keep the clothes until Easter, but send the skates as soon as you like. I am going to teach Mrs H. We will see what can be done for Xmas, my dear, I hope you may spend your old age in a house where there shall be money and to spare. We are to have fireworks tonight in Aspinal’s house out of town, and I am to be master of the revels, an office which always seems to fall to my lot, so I have to spend my leisure time punching eyes in a turnip instead of improving my mind. No word from London Society. I have another yarn on the stocks. I am going to write to Leigh Smith of the Eira today and ask him for a photo of my noble self. I was taken you know with a distinguished group on the quarterdeck.*

This mornings post brings letters from Budd and from Mrs Gray. Mrs Budd’s cousin is going to marry the brother of the Marquis of Lorne and there is going to be a great revel. Budd grumbles muchly over the price he’ll have to pay for a present. Mrs Hoare made me solemnly promise the evening I came that I wouldn’t make advances to the Governess who is rather a pretty girl, so I am very good. I am also good in the matter of the other more unsavoury subject. ; I got a telegram a few days ago from Porter to say that he was dying. I took a train and got down to Herefordshire by 9 in the evening, sat up all night by him poulticing his chest and filling him with drugs, and after seeing him turn the corner I was back in Birmingham in time to do a hard day’s work. That wasn’t bad. I enclose a letter I got from him yesterday to show how much better he is. ;