Letter from Frances Hodgkins to Dorothy Selby
Date
25 May 1932
See transcription
Catalogue number
FHL191
Date
25 May 1932
Transcript
Wed – morning 8 – A.M. [c.25th May 1932]
[Bodinnick]
Now look here D.S. this simply won’t do. You are really a dreadful woman & if you were still here I would give you a good hard biff.
These are definitely not the times to scatter fivers about on stray mantlepieces. Of course I love you for it, but you must take back & bank them for our next holiday together. It is quite lovely of you to give them to me & I know you understand me well enough not to be hurt (please don’t dare to be hurt) at my sending them back. You see I am quite safe for another year & perhaps for ever. In any case I would like to know what I did to earn or deserve them while you were here. I purposely refrained from cutting in & offering advice – it was not the moment. Indeed it is I who owe you thanks a hundredfold. You do me more good by coming – that is thanks enough from you – than I can possibly tell you. It is not every one who would care about a fortnight in the wilds with a vague & irritable Water Colourist like self. I simply loved having you & thank you for coming and staying.
The weather a point more settled this morning but not much – any way wind out of E. It rained all day yesterday & poured from 4 pm till 3 A.M this morning. I worked indoors. 2 clergy & wives came to tea – I heard much talk & laughter. Port wine for me in the evening from Cyril & appropriate remarks on both sides etc. Much regret that you had gone. You made a deep impression on all. Violet wrung her hands & cast up her eyes when you departed – crying – “she wonna come back – her has folded her serviette - her wonna come back”
No more- postie at door. Much love.
Frances
Hope journey comfortable
[Bodinnick]
Now look here D.S. this simply won’t do. You are really a dreadful woman & if you were still here I would give you a good hard biff.
These are definitely not the times to scatter fivers about on stray mantlepieces. Of course I love you for it, but you must take back & bank them for our next holiday together. It is quite lovely of you to give them to me & I know you understand me well enough not to be hurt (please don’t dare to be hurt) at my sending them back. You see I am quite safe for another year & perhaps for ever. In any case I would like to know what I did to earn or deserve them while you were here. I purposely refrained from cutting in & offering advice – it was not the moment. Indeed it is I who owe you thanks a hundredfold. You do me more good by coming – that is thanks enough from you – than I can possibly tell you. It is not every one who would care about a fortnight in the wilds with a vague & irritable Water Colourist like self. I simply loved having you & thank you for coming and staying.
The weather a point more settled this morning but not much – any way wind out of E. It rained all day yesterday & poured from 4 pm till 3 A.M this morning. I worked indoors. 2 clergy & wives came to tea – I heard much talk & laughter. Port wine for me in the evening from Cyril & appropriate remarks on both sides etc. Much regret that you had gone. You made a deep impression on all. Violet wrung her hands & cast up her eyes when you departed – crying – “she wonna come back – her has folded her serviette - her wonna come back”
No more- postie at door. Much love.
Frances
Hope journey comfortable
Sender's address
[Bodinnick]
Credit Line
E
H
McCormick
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