1 Nov 1921

1 November 1921

Chalet des Sapins, Montana-sur-Sierre, Switzerland

Dearest Vera,
   Its very late in the day to answer your birthday letter. I dont know what happens to Time now-a-days. The weeks dont only seem to fly; they seem to become all tail - all Saturday to Monday. That broad middle of the week when so much is going to be accomplished is telescoped away. Do you know - with increasing years, my dear, this speeding up? I wish it were not so.
   It was a delight to hear from you. Your handwriting always brings you back to me - the very sight of it and I see you and the way you hold the pen & I hear that pen flying. I had begun to feel we had gone into the silence, as we used to say. Marie and dear little J. give me news of you and send me snaps. (I had those summer ones from Almonte) but that is not the same. Shall I see you when you are in Europe, I wonder? It would be very nice to think so. I cant imagine you won't visit France & France is only at the bottom of the road or round the corner from Switzerland. But I know no more about your ‘visit' except the bare fact of it. I have asked Marie for some flesh and feathers . . .
   Well, darling - how are you? I would like to sit down beside you and ask you that and have the feeling neither of us was to whirl away before the full, free, confidential, sister-to-sister answer. Do I ask too much? Are such terms over between us? Do you feel I am a little bit of a stranger & not a real sister like the others? I believe you do. But there was a time when we were awfully near each other's heart. Don't lets forget it.

[To Vera McIntosh Bell, early November 1921.]