p.

3
how she pricked her own balloon within two days & browned
you off beyond endurance. She really is the silliest
bitch imaginable - though itis difficult not to feel fond
of her, having known her for so long now, & shared to
some extent in her ups & downs with Vernon & Whiskers
& so on; but, I agree, it is easier to do this from
a distance, than to have to listen to her fortuous outporings.
I wrote you some fairly rude things about her in a
previous letter - & once had an uneasy feeling that
by a coincidence the letter might arrive at the
same time as Max, you might be too weak to
read it yourself, & she would read it to you &
see this. But it really would not matter. She
would probably miss the point anyway, & her brain
would not remember long enough. I think it is
a "happy release" for old Kitty - perhaps some of
his friends will have had the sense to tell him
so. As far as living next door, or even in the
same village, & Geoffrey being my bosom - by Christ
if they are permitted to see us once a month they
may think themselves bloody lucky. I'm afraid I shall
not be any less intolerant when I return, probably
more so. And I still think it is the best policy,
because more often than not, my bad impression of
people is confirmed when I get to know them better,
& it is so pleasant, from time to time, to realise
that one has been wrong. Ben Ami, the wise
little man, has pointed out to me a new system which
I seem to have fallen into, for showing my