1918 Letter 6
July1st, [1918]
Darling Mother –
To-day I was at Mrs. Torrance’s for tea – her daughter and Miss Kingman are the Can Red X Representatives here and her husband’s cousin is Dr. Torrance late of Peterboro.
She knows the Rogers etc. and we were talking over things and I said how I wished you could come over. And just as calmly she said well why shouldn’t she. I told her how we 3 were over here and my dear she took the greatest interest and I am going to see her again and get whatever information I can for you. She agrees with me that the V.A.D.’s are not to be thought of, but I am going to track up something and will let you know as soon as I do.
Fitzpatrick Smith was with me she of Henry VIII fame and a woman who knows her England and she was quite enthusiastic over your delight in a little cottage and a real garden. Of course you will think me flighty and I haven’t begun any definite plan, but I am counting on Myra’s coming back soon and will ask her to introduce me to Lady Perley who is head of the Can. V.A.D.s and see what can be done. In the meantime find out all you can and say nothing to nobody in case we can’t pull it off. I told Fitz about the money end of it and as she says she’ll have to live "on the smell of an oiled rag" apres la guerre she was full of ideas. For one thing we figured out what I could save in laundry and dressmaking alone would be considerable and I can safely say I could easily spare you $40 a month besides what I am sending home at present and would count it the very best investment in the world and Eric could allow you the same. You see Mother when we take our leave it costs us $75 anyway and then all the other incidental expenses. So that that end of it would be clear gain having you.
The only thing is your getting over I will find out everything from the Torrances and will see Myra so don’t lose heart. Keep whatever you could use of Aunt Lauder’s and just arrange in your own mind what you’d bring – table linen, cushion covers and any little things that would be necessary. You have plenty of trunks and you could bring clothes you couldn’t wear at home and have them remodeled here for very little, underwear, etc. and in case this ever did materialize buy yourself a couple of pairs of really decent boots and shoes for you’d never wear English ones. Of course there is the food problem but everyone else is managing and Mrs. Torrance spoke about your coming so much as a matter or course that it made me feel absolutely home sick for you.
Fitzie has a friend in the war office, the one who knew China so well, and will make inquiries about the chance of secretarial work there, and I will follow up every clue. I [ ] I could stay in England indefinitely as I have done my share of foreign service and you could live near if we find out you don’t need to actually have a job, and even if I weren’t always with you you would be near and you would soon make heaps of friends. Mrs. Torrance has given me so much hope that I can scarcely sit still to write.
I am hoping to see Eric soon and we will talk over things. If he gets his Canada leave he can arrange so much for you so to me the prospect has never seemed so bright.
You could come over and meet people as you never could in peace time without lots of money. Part of my job is to get flowers for the tables and as I poke about the garden picking these wonderful roses my thoughts are always with you, and I think how you would revel in a real English garden.
We wouldn’t attempt much – a little cottage or even a couple of rooms in an area that isn’t flooded with troops would cost you very little and we could see your friends in the same way that we do at home without spending much money.
We have enough good things packed away to make any rooms pretty, and what else you needed you could rent. If Myra doesn’t come back I know Lady Perley’s daughter quite well and Mrs. McLaren and quite a number of people who could give me points, so from this minute I shall plan and live in hope.
Don’t say anything about it. My money is yours and you can draw every cent of it. $150 would see you through the trip with a good margin, and we can see you through once you are here.
I’ll tell you what line to follow as soon as I know and in the meantime plan your trousseau in every detail. Don’t bring a thing that isn’t good – get new things and lots of them.
Lovingly
Helen
I can scarcely wait and pray it may not be long.