7th August

My dear Arthur. I am very sorry your "leave" is not in sight but hope you may spend Xmas with us. I will not send the Times any more for the present + we shall have "Cornhill" regularly if somewhat late!

It really is very tantalizing not to hear all sorts of interesting details you are in a position to tell us, owing to the censorship. Our late successes are cheering that one longs to know more about them. I am not one of those optimists that think victory is imminent + final because we have scored lately but nothing ever shakes any absolute conviction that ultimate victory will be ours if we remain faithful to our task.

Wats is here + means to write to you himself. He is out just now + I am writing at some leisure because both he + Father are amusing each other! Wats is well + is dividing his fortnight holiday between us, Caistor + [illegible] + then goes in for a volunteer course before returning to his daily grind. With his usual want of the best of luck he has hit on a dull time here. Last week he would have enjoyed Ethel + her party + next week Meg is coming so could