Tho’ she had not by any means an exalted opinion of herself . . . she had no ambition to become better than, or different from, what she was. . . . She was by no means 'simple', but (for a woman) exceptionally balanced and as a critic once said 'unsurprised' . . .

. . . I hear from Margot & Violet that after all you were in the gallery, tho' you came too late for my speech. . . . I suppose you have had your lecture this evening & produced your notes about valves . . . The Turks have been trying to throw a bridge across the Suez Canal . . . and have retired into the desert.