er. He did us jolly well at tea
afterwards.

Dorothy rode my bike stridelegs coming back, so that I could sit in the
dog-cart. She said she'd get a jolly wigging if she was seen. We shan't
know till Monday.

You know, Mummy, that kid Ronny's having a rotten time, what with Bartie
being such a beast and Vera chumming up with Ferdie and going off to
country houses where he is. I really think she'd better come to us for
the holidays. Then I could teach her to ride. Bartie won't let her learn
here, though Ferdie'd gone and bought a pony for her. That was to spite
Ferdie. He's worse than ever, if you can imagine that, and he's got
three more things the matter with him.

I must stop now.

Love to Dad and Don and Nanna. Next year I'm to go into physics and
stinks--that's chemistry.

Your loving NICKY.

THE LEAS. PARABOLA ROAD.
CHELTENHAM,
_Sunday_.

DEAREST MUMMY:

I'm awfully sorry you don't like my last term's school report. I know it
wasn't what it ought to have been. I have to hold myself in so as to
keep in the same class with Rosalind when we're moved up after
Midsummer. But as she's promised me faithfully she'll let herself rip
next term, you'll see it'll be all right at Xmas. We'll both be in I A
the Midsummer after, and we can go in for our matic, together. I wish
you'd arrange with Mrs. Jervis for both of us to be at Newnham at the
same time. Tell her Rosalind's an awful slacker if I'm not there to keep
her up to the mark. No--don't tell her that. Tell her _I'm_ a slacker if
she isn't there.

I was amused by your saying it was decent of Bartie to have us so often.
He only does it because things are getting so tight between him and
Vera that he's glad of anything that relaxes the strain a bit. Even us.
He's snappier than ever with Ronny. I can't think how the poor kid
stands it.

You know that ripping white serge coat and skirt you sent me? Well, the
skirt's not nearly long enough. It doesn't matter a bit though, because
I can keep it for hockey. It's nice having a mother who _can_ choose
clothes. You should see the last blouse Mrs. Jervis got for Rosalind.
She's burst out of _all_ the seams already. You could have heard
her doing it.

Much love to you and Daddy and Don-Don. I can't send any to Mr. Parsons
now my hair's up. But you might tell him I'm going in strong for
Sociology and Economics.--

Your loving
DOROTHY.

P.S.--Vera asked me if I thought