p.

7.

you a running commentary on how I feel - but this
morning my cold is terrific + so I have confined myself
to my room. And now at 10.30 on a rather lovely morning
I am sitting down at my table to carry on with this letter.
And now about last week end. Ben + I set off at 12-30
on Saturday accompanied as the result of a last minute
decision by Senior Commander Pine of the A.T.S. - who
will henceforward be known as Helen; + by one of her
new Jewish subalterns. Ruth Berman who is the one I
had the long talk with last week at the R.E. dance
The [?] reason for taking Helen was in order that
she might do some recruiting propaganda too- but the
main + instrinsic reason was the education + instruction of
a woman in a very important position + who pretty well
classes the Jews + Arabs together as Palestinians + natives
+ certainly as inferior people to ourselves. I think we
opened her eyes + woke up quite a good deal but
it was not too easy, & I'm afraid that when she gets
into the hands of more Regular Army officers &
Government officials & so on, she will not have the
strength of mind to resist, & our good work will
be undone. And Ben & I were pretty sorry that
we asked them to come with us. At the dance,
& as a result of a few drinks, Helen seemed rather
a good sort if you know what I mean, & also fairly
intelligent & with a mind of her own. On further
acquaintence she has those qualities, but only in a
limited way. & she turned out to be rather dull & boring
& infernally English & narrow; & also not a little