Tidworth House, Andover. Sunday. Dearest Mother. You won't get this letter any sooner than if I wrote tomorrow from London, but I may not have time to write tomorrow before the post goes as I am going to see some pictures with Sir Frank in the afternoon and I've told Ambrose to come and see me late to talk about drawing out my plans for publication. Well, it's very amusing being in military circles. The party is the Roberts family, Sir Burce Hamilton (Mrs Beaumont's brother) and a few other soldiers supplemented by a variety of aides de camp. Major Lyon I saw for a moment yesterday and he is coming to dine tonight. It's very interesting seeing Lord Bobs. He is, of course, quite a dull little man, but when one looks at the upright little figure and the firm old face and thinks how much they meant in the black days of the war, one can't help feeling rather a thrill. We talked a little yesterday about Lord C. and Lord K. - he was very moderate but he thinks it a bad business and is persuaded that it will have to be undone some day. She is not exciting to the outsider, and I think she is rather ill, poor woman. His devotion to her is most touching. Lady Hamilton says people who say she had hindered him in his career are quite wrong, that she has really always made him go for the big thing and has counted for a great deal in his success. The girls are quite nice.
Sir Ian tells thrilling tales of his time with Koroki[?]. He quite bears out what has been said so often of the unapproachableness of the Japanese soldier. He says it was only towards the very end of his 18 months that they began to treat him as a friend. He is a dear, I must say, and so is she. It's delightful being with them.

Charming country and a great big house and such weather! Your affectionate daughter Gertrude

I saw in Paris Josef Reinach who had just returned from Russia. He says "C'est la fin de la dynastie." I wish Florence were not there at this moment; not that there is any danger for her, but there must be a good deal of agitation.