Letter from Frances Hodgkins to Eardley Knollys
Date
20 Oct 1944
See transcription
Catalogue number
FHL426
Date
20 Oct 1944
Transcript
Studio Corfe Castle Oct 20th 44
Dear Eardley
I was distressed to hear you were ill, but not too tediously so to judge by your high spirited letter. I hope nothing worse than a bad headache caused by racing around Britain much too often for your strength. Your letter gay & good as a POEM. I read it aloud. Written as though you didn’t mind being where you were for a bit – silly though it may be.
Well I am glad you are getting well quickly & soon may be calling on me – with or without friends. Well you’ll find me here with or without new pictures – all depends.
I have 2-3 high powered gouaches – also ditto oils.
The weather, no rain for once, very mixed & difficult for working any distance from my doorstep – but doors wide open & today sea breezes by your order magically exhilarating.
By now I had hopes of news from the Newberrys. All I know is that one of the sisters may be here shortly – the one whose son has recently married a French girl in Alexandria of all places. He may need mahogany furniture.
I am sorry this is not a very helpful letter. No dearth of news – plenty of it. Today a wedding – yesterday Mary Spenser Watson gored by a Bulll – etc & so on! One grows dangerously hardened under the over shadowing horror of War.
Best thanks for a very lovely letter – and love Frances
Dear Eardley
I was distressed to hear you were ill, but not too tediously so to judge by your high spirited letter. I hope nothing worse than a bad headache caused by racing around Britain much too often for your strength. Your letter gay & good as a POEM. I read it aloud. Written as though you didn’t mind being where you were for a bit – silly though it may be.
Well I am glad you are getting well quickly & soon may be calling on me – with or without friends. Well you’ll find me here with or without new pictures – all depends.
I have 2-3 high powered gouaches – also ditto oils.
The weather, no rain for once, very mixed & difficult for working any distance from my doorstep – but doors wide open & today sea breezes by your order magically exhilarating.
By now I had hopes of news from the Newberrys. All I know is that one of the sisters may be here shortly – the one whose son has recently married a French girl in Alexandria of all places. He may need mahogany furniture.
I am sorry this is not a very helpful letter. No dearth of news – plenty of it. Today a wedding – yesterday Mary Spenser Watson gored by a Bulll – etc & so on! One grows dangerously hardened under the over shadowing horror of War.
Best thanks for a very lovely letter – and love Frances
Sender's address
Studio, Corfe Castle
Credit Line
E
H
McCormick
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H
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