p.

5.

previous letter she spoke of David & in this one
she called him "your boy". As I told you before,
he seems to be irrevocably Max now. I wonder
if your mind is made up or whether you are
still wondering.

I also had sea mail letters from Frost & Gladys -
July & Aug respectively. Frost said he had
written three times before - but I have not had
any of them. Things sound a bit grim at the Works,
owing to cotton control & resultant shortage of that
commodity, so essential to us - but they seem to
be keeping their end up which is the main
thing. He sent good wishes & interesting messages
from various people. Barker of Cn. E. Hermitage
he told me had left under a cloud at Xmas.
I was v. sorry to hear this. And George Hallas
is now a 2nd Lieut. Gladys wrote "Dear
Mr. Massey" which was refreshing & sensible
of her. She was overjoyed about Maxie - kind soul.
She said it would have done my heart good to have
seen them all in the office when they heard
from you that I was a major - but not to
get too attached to a mililtary life because they
wanted me back again. What a hope! Also
that my new office is grand - but that had I
been there some things might have been
different & dark hints that the "powers that