Thursday morning 24 [August] Enclosure – Letter to LR from Margaret Russell
PublicPage from Robert Graves diary manuscript. The diary includes 1,546 pages with 117 enclosures: letters, clippings, photographs post cards, notes, games.
- In Collection:
- 1 page : 12 x 19.5 cm or smaller
- The diary is written on quarto sheets, folded horizontally to form octavo booklets, one recto page devoted to each day.
- Robert Graves Diary, 1935-1939
- Accession Number: 1969-003, Item: Gr-1-1294
- Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1938-09-03_01_enc.html
- Special Collection finding aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/robert-graves-collection
- July 19, 2002
- Enclosure – Letter to LR from Margaret Russell Thursday morning 24 [August] Dearest Laura. Thank you so much for sweet note just read and your lovely letter the day before yesterday and your dear voices on the phone yesterday. How nice it was to hear you all, hope I did not “jabber” too much, I have been in solitary confine-ment confinement so long, I am afraid I say too much when I get the opportunity, & I hate the word confinement, and perhaps in your dictionary something nice can be put in its place. I wish I too knew what to do to be right, and the best for all, there is you, who would, I know appreciate me, as I certainly should you, though I could never give poor service to anyone, and I really feel I can't go there, its so and Norman, he seems to want me to remain with him so much and has told me to get a furnished room and store his stuff, or do as I think about two rooms and have these things, apart from his bed & lounge chairs. Oh! dear. I have never in my life felt so unsettled anywhere. I was never settled at the Wood's but, my job was secure, and it was a job and I knew it so well. She, the old girl, has asked me twice to return to her, but no, I don't want to do that either. I feel it best to see Norman settled, and he does seem to hang on to me like a drowning man to a straw, but, I am no straw, tho, poor Norman. I think it will prove itself some how if I am to remain, by finding a room or some thing soon. Last Saturday I was with Catherine unpacking her things, I told her she took up all the wardrobe, and where were his things going, – they must go in trunks folded up, such selfishness, not if I know it, his lovely dress suit etc and his other good clothes. M rs . Cameron has given them some lovely chairs, each seat is different in woolen tapestry, also the huge wardrobe and a lot of silver. Two marvellous glass decanters have arrived, he says from the neighbours, he is in bed this morning and I have just given him a hot bottle. Rushed and worried to death, and we were getting on so nicely until the Russian aristocracy attacked us. Christ God knows how she wants to hang on to me when she has offended everyone else, I think Norman is more firm about that though than she is, although I feel pretty certain when the curtains are made, the moving done, (I have to be out of here by the 10 th ) I will sleep at Ivor Court though, if no where else, I must have a bed somewhere,) and their own place ready for them I too will to be told to clear out, and then the Irish & Russian clash!!! My God its a shocking life, and yet all I crave for is a regular job and peace!!! M rs . Simmons has just rung up, I could not say much as N. took the phone, besides some one was at her door, and some one at mine I will ring her up tomorrow though as I did want to tell her, I had heard you on the phone. I had a feeling all along things were not right with Catherine & you, since h went to France he has been so different & when he told me the other morning, Monday, it really was a shock, as the more I had thought about it, the less possible it seemed to be. It seems to me, everyone has been used, until she has got him, and then, her object obtained to hell with everyone, its tragic, for before long, Norman, will be more lonely than ever. I hope and trust I will never refer to her again if I have to work for them, then I must be loyal? and respect? her, but God help me!!! Must away now & take Jane's baby out instead of tomorrow. Norman does not mind being left, says he is getting up now, and going out. I wonder if he will be okay for Saturday morning. Catherine's last words to me on Tuesday, get him up in plenty of time, I told her I would give him his breakfast in bed, poor boy. Its true no luck can follow them with all the upset they have given others, how strange it is, those with all the good things like she has had all her life & I do not think it has ever cost her much to live she always seems to have had her expenses paid by some or other. Taken out & about Really must away now. Best of love to you, & Captain Alan & Beryl. all kind friends make Margaret a good soul for Christs sake AMEN.
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
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