p.

2.

of trouble. I think this was just a bit of typical
Regular Army "keep your feet dry" & "ostrich" [married?]
but having asked his advice, I felt bound to take it.
However, other people have replied critically - all of
them missing the point rather pitifully - & I think
the Gov't must have come down on it too. Because
now it has changed entirely & is altogether too
optimistic & generally the other way round. Our
propaganda is really very clumsy & maladroit &
without direction too.

I have just looked up my Fowler to see if maladroit
is a good word to use or not, but it did not mention
it. On my way through, my eye was caught by the
word girl - Fowler says "-they use with curl, which a
pearl & with the first syllable of early, not of fairly.
But a pronunciation gairl (garl) not very easily
distinguished from gal (gal) is much affected by persons
who aim at peculiar refinement. Novellists who write
gurl as a representation of course speach are
presumably of this refined class". That would
seem to answer my mother & some others I know.
Fowler is really very rich & rude & not
a little unkind but very helpful. I wonder are
my English & spelling improving? It has certainly
made me more conscience & careful.

I must now hear the 11.45 news & go to bed.
Six years ago tonight, I was at Ramano's