Letters from Mesopotamia | Page 4

hid more than half the snows.
We rode down again to Valino's, the nutty tea-shop here, where we had
reserved a table on the balcony. Guy was there before us and we sat
there till nearly seven listening to the band. We got back to dinner
where Purefoy had secured one of his innumerable lightning friends to
dine with us, and adjourned to the Club for billiards afterwards: quite a
full day.
Thursday: Government House.--Another busy day. It was fine again
this morning, so we all three rode up to Snow View and got an
absolutely perfect view: the really big snows were clear and cloudless,
while the lower slopes and hills and valleys were flooded with broken
seas of dazzling cloud. I put it second only to the Darjeeling view.
After breakfast Purefoy and I came up and played golf. Guy took fright
at the chance of being asked in to lunch here and went sailing again. A
shower made us late in starting, and we only got through twelve holes,
after many misfortunes. I ended dormy five.
Lady M. had been in bed ever since we left, but is up to-day, looking
rather ill still.
To-night there is a dinner party.

Friday.--The dinner party was uneventful. I sat next a Mrs. ----, one of
the silliest females I ever struck. Her only noteworthy remark was that
of course the Germans were well equipped for the War as they had
been preparing for it for arcades and arcades.
It is wet again to-day. No mail has arrived. I start for Agra after lunch. I
have had a delicious holiday. My address now will be:
"Attached 1/4 Hants Regt., I.E.F. 'D,' c/o India Office, S.W."
and post a day early.
* * * * *
NAINI TAL CLUB.
August 4th, 1915.
To N.B.
I got a telegram on Sunday asking me to take out a draft to the 4th
Hants, in the Persian Gulf, so my address till further notice will be
"I.E.F. 'D,' c/o India Office, S.W." I thought I should hate the idea of
going to the P.G., but now that it's come along I'm getting rather keen
on going. We have been kicking our heels so long while everyone else
has been slaving away at the front, that one longs to be doing
something tangible and active. The P.G. is not exactly the spot one
would select for a pleasure trip: but on the other hand there is likely to
be more to do there that is more in my line than the purely military side
of the business. The main trouble there is sickness and I'm sure a lot of
it is preventible: and though in a battle I should be sure to take the
wrong turn and land my detachment in some impossible place, I don't
feel it so beyond me to remind them to boil their water and wear their
helmets.
I don't know when I'm off, having heard nothing but the bare telegram.
They don't want me back in Agra till Saturday, so I shall almost finish
my full fortnight's leave. It has been heavenly here and the memory of

it will be a joy for months to come. The forests are lovelier than ever:
the ferns which clothe the trees are now full grown, and pale purple
orchids spangle the undergrowth. Wild dahlias run riot in every open
bank, and the gardens are brilliant with lilies and cannas.
It rained with drenching persistence for three days, but the last two
have been lovely. I got up early this morning, rode up a mountain and
saw the most superb view of the snows. The brown hills between me
and the snows had their valleys full of rolling white clouds, and the
result was a study in deepest blue and purest white, more wonderful I
think than anything I've seen.
The whole station turned out to the Anniversary Service to-day. It is
dreadful to think that we've all been denying our Christianity for a
whole year and are likely to go on doing so for another. How our Lord's
heart must bleed for us! It appals me to think of it.
* * * * *
GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
NAINI TAL.
August 5th, 1915.
TO HIS FATHER.
I have written all the news to Mamma this week. The chief item from
my point of view is that, as I cabled to you, I am to take a draft from
our two Agra Double Coys. to reinforce the 4th Hants, who are now at
Nasiriya on the Euphrates. I got the wire asking me to do this on
Sunday, but have heard no details since (this is Thursday night), so I
presume they know nothing more at Agra or the Major or Luly would
surely have written.
On