15 March 1921

15 March 1921

Villa Isola Bella, Menton, France

I shall try and reply to your two letters. I wish to Heaven you didn’t refer some of these silly little points to me. Its really idiotic to ask me if I wish to take the advice re cleaning of Shoolbreds man. Of course I do. Why not? Am I an idiot? They sound all right and satisfactory. Go ahead.
(a) Yes, sell mattress of camp bed. Keep mattress of grey bed.
(b) Ill send a note to Broomies. 
(c) Arthur had better have the letter paper for scribbling paper. 

(d) Of course give the rabbit or any other small thing to the baby. 
(e) Let both the wooden clocks go — especially the beehive one. I mean I do not want them kept.
Do you mean destroy by put away? Is that a delicate refined way of referring to the morts des objets cheris. I don’t know. May I put them away? What does it mean? Youd scarcely be silly enough to destroy my old blotter if it were possible to keep it, and the velvet curtain you say has only one small hole.   its not bad enough to destroy. And does keep mean store. For I asked you to bring my Chinese skirt & yet I certainly don’t want these other things. As to the remains of that rubbishy plaid velvet — I groan with horror at the thought of its perpetuity. It is extremely confusing. I have wired you about Jack’s things. Its no good saying if you dont hear by Thursday youll do so & so. Today is Thursday & your letter is only just come.

The weather is v. fine here. All is as usual. The house ‘goes’ & the servants are just the same. Please do not hurry back. That is my one really urgent cry. My health is also — the same.
                                    Katherine.
Dont, as a result of this letter stop writing to me — please.

[To Ida Baker in Collected Letters, 16 March 1921.]