Letter 4, 10th May 1930
IMG 0336
New Clan
Dorking
10 . V . 30
My dear Bailey,
I have just been lunching with James Blackwood – who tells me
that to the best of his knowledge you are not moving from Drummond Place, and will
continue to live there. Is this so?
I ask for two reasons – firstly, because it would be a disappointment to your
friends in the South if you were to fly once more to inaccessible regions – and
secondly, because I still have the local Agents busy finding you the sort of house you
described when you talked of the
IMG 0337
possibility of settling in Surrey. J.B. may have got hold of the muddy end of the stick;
He may, on the other hand, have more recent news of you than mine – now a month
or two old.
===
You remember our jaunt, with Martin, down the Dibang, when we tore the bottom
out of his Berthon boat? See “Maga” of June 1st – forthcoming. I'm afraid I've had to
elaborate what was merely a lark into something longer – and add a few trimmings,
surrounding circumstances which never happened, in order to make a rather longer
story of it. The lies you will spot at once; but several of the other incidents you will
recognise. I thought I'd better warn you of the fictitious nature of some of the details,
IMG_0338
and the reasons for them, since George Blackwood, who always likes to see behind
the scenes in these contributions, if possible, knows that “Baird” = Bailey and
“Marriott” = Martin.
===
When are we to see you and Mrs Bailey down here? Can you make the time for a
jaunt, and time to break bread?
===
Do you ever go to the R.G.S. evening meetings? I shall be at that of May 19th – as I
am bidden to dine with the Kramer(?) Club that evening, and to go on afterwards to
hear Schomberg read his paper on the Thian Shan. He ought to be interesting.
- Best luck. Yours v. sincerely
- L. A. Bethell
- L. A. Bethell
- Best luck. Yours v. sincerely
