We had a ripping time last Saturday.  Bartie went up to town, and Major Cameron took Dorothy and Ronny and Vera and me and Mick to Birdlip in his dog-cart, only Mick and me had to bike because there wasn’t room enough.  However we grabbed the chains behind and the dog-cart pulled us up the hills like anything, and we could talk to Dorothy and Ronny without having to yell at each other.  He did us jolly well at tea afterwards.

Dorothy rode my bike stridelegs coming back, so that I could sit in the dog-cart.  She said she’d get a jolly wigging if she was seen.  We shan’t know till Monday.

You know, Mummy, that kid Ronny’s having a rotten time, what with Bartie being such a beast and Vera chumming up with Ferdie and going off to country houses where he is.  I really think she’d better come to us for the holidays.  Then I could teach her to ride.  Bartie won’t let her learn here, though Ferdie’d gone and bought a pony for her.  That was to spite Ferdie.  He’s worse than ever, if you can imagine that, and he’s got three more things the matter with him.

I must stop now.

Love to Dad and Don and Nanna.  Next year I’m to go into physics and stinks—­that’s chemistry.

Your loving NICKY.

     THE LEAS.  PARABOLA ROAD. 
          CHELTENHAM,
               Sunday.

DEAREST MUMMY: 

I’m awfully sorry you don’t like my last term’s school report.  I know it wasn’t what it ought to have been.  I have to hold myself in so as to keep in the same class with Rosalind when we’re moved up after Midsummer.  But as she’s promised me faithfully she’ll let herself rip next term, you’ll see it’ll be all right at Xmas.  We’ll both be in I A the Midsummer after, and we can go in for our matic, together.  I wish you’d arrange with Mrs. Jervis for both of us to be at Newnham at the same time.  Tell her Rosalind’s an awful slacker if I’m not there to keep her up to the mark.  No—­don’t tell her that.  Tell her I’m a slacker if she isn’t there.

I was amused by your saying it was decent of Bartie to have us so often.  He only does it because things are getting so tight between him and Vera that he’s glad of anything that relaxes the strain a bit.  Even us.  He’s snappier than ever with Ronny.  I can’t think how the poor kid stands it.

You know that ripping white serge coat and skirt you sent me?  Well, the skirt’s not nearly long enough.  It doesn’t matter a bit though, because I can keep it for hockey.  It’s nice having a mother who can choose clothes.  You should see the last blouse Mrs. Jervis got for Rosalind.  She’s burst out of all the seams already.  You could have heard her doing it.

Much love to you and Daddy and Don-Don.  I can’t send any to Mr. Parsons now my hair’s up.  But you might tell him I’m going in strong for Sociology and Economics.—­

     Your loving
          DOROTHY.

P.S.—­Vera asked me if I thought you’d take her and Ronny in at Midsummer.  I said of course you would—­like a shot.