p.

9
they had had to deal for a very long time. So now
I have two Officer trials coming up - this bloody man
& my wretched Thornton: Thank goodness, a mans CO
cannot also be on the Court.
You said in your last letter darling, that you hoped all
ths C.O business would not make me forget how to
make faces & make you laugh. There is really no need
to worry, my sweetheart. I shall always vow to make you
laugh, feel pleased when I do - pull faces too. I do
now into my mirror in my room. I think the
responsibility has made me a bit more impatient &
even intolerant of other people - but then my
responsibility at Norths was at least as great as this,
though my powers were not so absolute as they
are now - what with Executive Directors & Trades
Unions. I always feel & I do hope I am right, that I
have changed quite a lot - for the better - that i
have cut out a certain amount of nonsense, that I am
more sensible of what is worth while. And certainly that
my love for you & appreciation of you is deeper & even
more sincere, & I hope, a great deal more understanding.
I always hope that perhaps my letters may show this.
But harping back to the C.O stuff again, it
certainly seems a far cry from the days of Territorial
camps with Vernon & everybody. Drunk every night,
without fail, beating up the mess, & tremendous rockets
from Mandleberg or Zag the next day.
I went to a shop yesterday & bought for you a