p.

11.

I have bought another dog. I was quite sure, when Peter was
killed, that I would not have another dog out here. But
I found myself so lonely, & also much too inclined to
waste time, sitting in th Mess, talking to Ben &
Kalk - instead of coming to my room & writing or
reading. But I found my room so miserable all by
myself, after I had been so used to Peter sitting
beside me, & who I could talk to, about you, & how
sweeet you are, & how much I love you, & about Max,
& about how awful everything is, & will I get a letter
tomorrow, & so many things. And he was always here
to welcome me & be pleased to see me. And one
recovers from the loss of a dog - though I resented &
was heart broken by the violence & suddeness of Peter's
death, when he was such a pleasure & such a
comfort to me & had been with me so much of my
time out here. Anyway I saw an advertisement in the
paper for fox terrier puppies, & I suddenly decided that
I had now recovered about Peter, - I must go & look
at these. I knew there were no more [Selvangers?] in
Palestine - & they do not have pleasant mongrels out
here. I found two brothers, 7 weeks old, & very good
& healthy, & L7 each. So I argued hard & swallowed
hard - & bought the one I liked best. I hope you
wont think me extravagant, because it isn't really, &
he will probably even save money for me, because
his upkeep costs nothing at all, & I am now much
happier to stay & do not feel so urgently anxious
to get out of this place for an evening. But, quite
apart from the profit & loss of the deal, he is worth
the money for the pleasure he gives me. He is