Box 1

"With awful reluctance I'm writing to ask you to put off your visit for a short time- ten days or two weeks. I am so tired I can hardly bear myself, and I'm going to hide and do nothing..."

"I woke up in the night on the thought that of course the tenor to waite an introduction to your book is Rebecca West, who knows and liked and admired your mother..."

"It seems as if the cold would never end, but surely by the 23rd it will have moved away- a little. Cancel at the last minute if you have to, but come if you can..."

"I can't go to bed without waiting to thank you. I have been in despair, not able to lay hands anywhere on a copy of the book, to replace the one with its ink-covered pages..."

"You are very patient with you aged friend, for which she is grateful. I really have had a rather grimly troubled time for the past several weeks, both personally and family, but chiefly the second..."

"I should and I do thank you for my happy day- like a warm warm sun suddenly falling through clouds. Thank you, dear Marjorie. How good you are. So good..."

"How good of you and how wrong of you. It is a lovely jumper and a lovely color. I ought to scold you for giving me such a gift, but I haven't the heart, I liked it so much and I'm so overwhelmed by your kindness..."

"This should have been a letter for the New Year, but all sorts of mostly small troubles fell on me, and now that the sky is more or less clear again I find I am exhausted..."

"You must try to forgive me for so shamefully collapsing on you last night- that I was physically down and out is no excuse. You can only forgive me- or not..."

"What a generous warm letter you have written me- I feel at once humble and happy. The damned postman has come so late I can only catch the Saturday post if I run like a hare to the postbox..."