I am like that disciple who said: “Lord I believe. Help thou my unbelief.” As I was dressing and your letter was already sealed the heavy steps really came along the corridor. The knock at the door—the old man with the blue folded paper that I scarcely dared to take and having taken—could not open. Oh, I sat by the side of my bed—and opened it little by little. I read all those directions for the sending of urgent telegrams in the night—At last I said: “He is not coming” and opened it and read your message…. Since then I have never ceased for one moment to tremble…. I felt “Now he is coming that villa is taken” and I ran, ran along the quai. One day I shall tell you all this at length, but it was not taken until I saw the woman and took it. I went through it again. It is quite perfect in its way. It is always what I felt there was somewhere in the world for us, in Spain or Italy. And the people to whom it belongs who live next door are such good, decent, honest people, page 63 eager to have us, eager to make us comfortable and happy. “Je suis toujours là. Vous avez seulement de frapper si vous auriez besoin de quelque chose.” The sun shone in every room and on the little stone verandah danced the shadow of a tree. Is this true? Is it coming true? I have to sign the agreement and pay a month in advance to-morrow. Then to order the coal and wood and see my femme de menage who has already been found “pour 3 heures le matin et pour faire mes petites courses, n'est-ce pas?” All the rest of the day … I do not know how I have spent it—such a lovely wild day brimming over with colour and light. I have found the shortest way to our home by a road you do not know, through fields of jonquils and past the olive trees that blow so silver and black to-day. There are high walls on the road and nobody goes.

Yes, I have found a lovely way—And I have made out a list of our modest provisions that I shall buy on Friday. In fact I have made out more than one list. For I can't even write or read….

This morning I went to the little Church and prayed. It is very nice there. I prayed for us three—for you and me and Chummie. It was so gay and yet solemn there.