.
To-morrow you ought to land in England, and to-morrow night you should
sleep in London. I am trying to swop my leave with another man,
otherwise it won't come till the 15th. I am looking forward every hour
to those miraculous nine days which we are to have together. You can't
imagine with your vividest imagination the contrast between nine days
with you in London and my days where I am now. A battalion went by
yesterday, marching into action, and its band was playing I've a
Sneakin' Feelin' in My Heart That I Want to Settle Down. We all have
that sneaking feeling from time to time. I tell myself wonderful stories
in the early dark mornings and become the architect of the most
wonderful futures.

I'm coming to join you just as soon as I know how--at the worst I'll be
in London on the 16th of this month.

Ever yours,
CON.

_The following letters were written after Coningsby had met his family
in London._

XXXIX

January 24th, 1917.

MY DEAR ONES:

I have had a chance to write you sooner than I expected, as I stopped
the night where I disembarked, and am catching my train to-day.

It's strange to be back and under orders after nine days' freedom.
Directly I landed I was detailed to march a party--it was that that made
me lose my train--not that I objected, for I got one more sleep between
sheets. I picked up on the boat in the casual way one does, with three
other officers, so on landing we made a party to dine together, and had
a very decent evening. I wasn't wanting to remember too much then, so
that was why I didn't write letters.

What good times we have to look back on and how much to be thankful for,
that we met altogether. Now we must look forward to the summer and,
perhaps, the end of the war. What a mad joy will sweep across the world
on the day that peace is declared!

This visit will have made you feel that you have a share in all that's
happening over here and are as real a part of it as any of us. I'm
awfully proud of you for your courage.

Yours lovingly,
CON.

XL

January 26th, 1917.

MY VERY DEAR ONES:

Here I am back--my nine days' leave a dream. I got into our wagon-lines
last night after midnight, having had a cold ride along frozen roads
through white wintry country. I was only half-expected, so my
sleeping-bag hadn't been unpacked.