I do feel to-day that Friday is—oh, so near. I keep making preparations … and speculations. Will my page 203 flowers last till then? Shall Rib wear his new dress or the old one his father loves?

I feel ever so greatly better to-day (can't write or spell tho'). I had a good night. Oh, a good one! A. came early and began the great painting—me in that red, brick red frock with flowers everywhere. It's awfully interesting even now. I painted her in my way as she painted me in hers: her eyes … “little blue flowers plucked this morning …”

The reason why I have been so very quiet about my weight is I was only 7.10 when I weighed last, so I didn't tell you. For I had lost a couple of pounds. I know when and why. It was when I had one of my blackest moods—I felt very dreadful; but by next Wednesday I ought to have found them again and I will wire you the good tidings…. Bother—wasn't it? I wish you would whisper C. to send me ½ Ib. of good chocolates. I pine for that sweet toothful, and there is nothing here just now but chewing gum. Everybody in this hotel has told me how much better I am to-day than I was yesterday—which is very nice of them.

I say—what about Thursday! I told Rib who became a shocking boy on the spot, absolutely too much for any woman to deal with. I threatened him finally with the Children's Court and said I'd tell the magistrate he was incorrigible. But he pays no attention, only asks the empty air: “Well why does she keep on kissing me while she says all this?”

You're not to think I bullied you about this large suit case. (You do.) Really and truly I have only gone into the affair in such detail to make you feel comfortably disguised—camouflaged—in the presence of the chimpanzees. For, tho' they don't bite, their chatter is the hell of a bore, don't you think? You must not bring anything but a coloured handkerchief and a tommyhawk if you don't want to.