So I Have Thought of You: The Letters of Penelope Fitzgerald. Penelope Fitzgerald

Чтение книги онлайн.

       Tina Fitzgerald ^*

       Flat 5144 Earls Court Rd.

       London, sw5

      Thursday [Easter, 1964]

      Dearest Tina,

      I do hope the crossing was all right, as we had a very stiff breeze in the Earls Court Rd. s.w.5. But Daddy tells me that Mrs Taylor had brought half a bottle of brandy and a tea-spoon to quell any cases of sickness – I don’t know if she had to resort to this.

      Of course you are very much missed especially by Maria who finds me boring in the extreme, but I’m not quite so tired today and will try to amuse her a bit better. We’ve got her a slip with lace, which seems to be a status symbol at the school. Meanwhile she went to confession all by herself which was quite an effort.

      It’s a lovely day here but cold. I see it’s raining in Barcelona but I think this is a good thing as it will surely clear up and be really sunny when you arrive.

      Do remember to wash your stockings or socks every night and please if you can get some Spanish playing cards, the ordinary cheap kind, you will, won’t you? Señor Ramos can easily get a pack from a bar or a fonda, but perhaps he is not very approachable.

      Mrs Morris’s baby does not seem to have arrived yet, and there is a terrible smell of cooking from Mr Morris’s kitchen. Some new people are moving in downstairs. Mrs Ladas says that a large family with fierce Alsatian and 3 ponies have moved into the Wright’s house and she feels that between them and the Pages she would have no peace at all. The Alsatian is always on the lawn.

      I am off now to the Post Office to send the eggs to Wangford – choc. drops for Ralph and I knitted a pair of bootees for Martha.^* Ria has gone to play two-balls with Jane.

      Hasta la vista y diviértete bien

      much love mum

       Flat 5144 Earls Court Road

       London, sw5

      Easter Saturday [1964]

      Dearest Tina,

      I do hope you will get this letter in time before you leave on the long trek home. The Express says it is sunny in Barcelona, so I hope you’re in for a good Easter.

      Great distress as Maria has just eaten all the pips of her orange, so none can be planted.

      We went down to see the Boat Race at Hammersmith Bridge but arrived too late – which didn’t matter because Cambridge was winning easily it turned out. We took the opportunity to look at Godolphin school again and it certainly didn’t look too bad. We also visited the Doll Museum – were taken round by the excessively kinky proprietor with a flickering oil lamp. He showed all the dolls sitting round like corpses ‘having a fish tea’ as he said with a queer laugh – Maria misses you very much, and is very obstreperous. Valpy back on Tuesday.

      I have been asked to coach a Buddhist girl, but she wants to come here, so I can’t do it; such a pity as it would have been money for nothing.

      Longing to see you and hear about your trip. Hope you are keeping Miss Taylor in order.

      love from Mum

      X

       Squalid Council Estate

      [7 April 1965]

      Dearest Tina,

      I wasn’t able to say the many things I intended in the Lighthills’ hall – just as well I expect – but I must say now that I miss you very much – as we all do – and what to do without you I cannot think, but I do hope you may get some amusement of it at least. I thought you looked exceedingly nice when you went off in the white stockings. I’m afraid I’m not at all successful, as a mother, in not getting on your nerves: but I do love you very much. It’s so queer with no voice coming from your room.

      Maria was asleep when I got back, worn out with the excitement of your departure. I ought to go to see Mme. Aubrey in hospital tomorrow, but it seems hard on her to drag her all that way. I’m not quite sure what to do. One of my ivy plants looks as though it’s dying: I must sneak out by night and see if I can get some more earth from the Agnes Riley gardens.

      Please don’t be depressed by the thought of our flat &c, I know it isn’t grand, but I am sure we’ll be able to manage so she^* doesn’t notice too much. The Lighthills’ carpet doesn’t meet properly in the hall anyway. But I did rather fall for the Professor, he’s just like a professor in a comic. Anyway it was very kind of them and better by far than struggling up from s.w.4.

      I am dying to know what life is like in Avenue du Cèdre (only one cedar presumably) and look forward very much to a letter; I’ve nothing to say in this one as you see, but wanted to tell you how much I was thinking of you. I feel so low, but this won’t do, and is not the СКАЧАТЬ