20 Aug 1921

20 August 1921

Chalet des Sapins, Montana-sur-Sierre, Switzerland

Dear Elizabeth,
  It seems so slight a return to make only une reverence nouvelle for these flowers! I have a whole petunia and nasturtium summer to thank you for - no less. Never shall I forget it. I know you will understand me when I say that every time I go into the salon they give me a fresh small shock of delight; every time one bends over them to greet them it is to discover fresh beauties. I have ‘planted out' some of my petunias into a story so that they may live a little longer, and now I am looking for a favourable corner for a whole blaze of nasturtiums. Breathes there the man, do you think? - who understands a woman's love of flowers? Perhaps a very ancient Chinaman or two. But they, to judge by their poetry, found lettuces so moving, which I find a little hard to understand. Not that I don't fully appreciate a lettuce - but its green food to sing on - -
  A thrill went through the Chalet des Sapins to hear you were gone to Italy! To Italy - no less. Italian airs sang at the windows, and we ate our small mountain grapes at supper with a difference. But I hope this rain - so lovely here - is not falling so far.
  Shall we see you soon. Oh weh! Why cant I once run down the hill and pipe Elizabeth very small - just once - beneath your windows.
  Farewell
  With our loves
                            Katherine.

[To Elizabeth, Countess Russell, Collected Letters, 22 August 1921.]