The time goes flying, but I am getting to learn my wonderful boy.
We speak a great deal about his work. He has just finished a
curious thing called "Nemi"--about a Roman ship that is actually
sunk in some lake. I cannot think how he describes the things,
when he has never seen them. If, as I hope, he goes to Italy next
year, he should turn out something really good. Meanwhile we are
hunting for a publisher. Herbert believes that a collection of
short stories is hard to get published. It is, after all, better
to write one long one.

But you must not think we only talk books. What we say on other
topics cannot so easily be repeated! Oh, Mrs Lewin, he is a dear,
and dearer than ever now that we have him at Sawston. Herbert, in
a quiet way, has been making inquiries about those Cambridge
friends of his. Nothing against them, but they seem to be
terribly eccentric. None of them are good at games, and they
spend all their spare time thinking and discussing. They discuss
what one knows and what one never will know and what one had much
better not know. Herbert says it is because they have not got
enough to do.--Ever your grateful and affectionate friend,

Agnes Pembroke


Shelthorpe, 9 Sawston Park Road
Sawston

Dear Mr. Silt,--