23 September

23 September 1920

Travelling to Menton, France

Dearest Dear
DONT worry about me; I beg you not to. I am certainly on the mend. All that remains is for me to get back my strength. And I SHALL in no time now. I haven't worried an atom bit about Floryan except in so far as it worried you and affects us. I won't have that Pole outside our door. Burn all he gives you - won't you? A bonfire ...
Im sending my reviews tomorrow. Wish I was a trump. Its most fright-fully nice to be called one. Tommy (Ill send you his letter on Sunday. It was a masterpiece) sent me Arnold Bennett's new book to do for the Nation. I must do it & at once. Its a chance for me. But I wish you could melt me down some iron nails or better make some iron tea in a jug in our backyard where we played when we were tinies, first. Wanted: Old or New Iron. Good Price Given.
I thought on the spot Roger when you mentioned Violet. I had thought it before. My literary watchdog bayed at that marriage & always called it a tragedy. I hope its not. The Newspapers arrive every day. But look here!! What a trick to play on your little pal. There was I reading away about Miners Ultimatums and Darker Prospecks per usual & suddenly - plop I went through the bed - just my toes waving au secours. ‘Mr J.M.M., Editor of the Athenaeum, writes ...' Can you imagine it??? You, with your absurd little coal shovel talking about Blood Money & International Coal Scuttles. I see you with your hands behind your back at the Miners' Congress singing: ‘My pay was 40 cents a day, twing!' Oh my Preposterous Darling - [Letter to J. M. Murry in Collected Letters]