Letter from Edward Thomas to the poet Gordon Bottomley. Sent from Steep, Petersfield, Hampshire. Archival ref: 424/1/1/1/10/187
Steep

24.v.1914

My dear Gordon
The letter came a little after you were receiving mine
& I was glad. I noticed R H Law's book being acknowledged
& will cock the rights sort of eye at it if it comes to Steep.
The difficulty of Dures is greater. I have said the true
thing perhaps twice in print - he thought it meant
hostility & tho I personally thought it would do him
& me good that our position was not the blind adorer &
the blind adored. You can't talk to Davies except
personal talk. He pretends to understand but doesn't
& goes on his way.
I have been reconsidering & it seems to me
the best thing would be for me to come about June 13
for a week, or perhaps a little earlier, the 10th.
Helen & I are to have such
a little time together that we couldn't manage more
than such a few days North that I thought this
plan better, tho it robs her of a very long deferred
pleasure. Now if I come on the 10th or 13th
may I do a morning's work? I get about 10
much now that if I don't work a little everywhere
I get behind.
Well I saw Guthrie. He did complain a
lot. It is partly habit, for I gather that he can
still enjoy idle days with the boys which is a
very good sign indeed, I think - if he could not
I don't see how he would survive that household
long.
Ever yours & Emily's
Edward Thomas