This is only a wild and hasty line to show I have not forgotten,
and to ask you if it would be too late if I let you know in a day or
two, touching your generous suggestion about your vacation. I shall
know for certain, I think, at latest by the end of the week; but just
at the moment it depends on things still uncertain, about a nurse who
is staying here giving my wife a treatment of radiant heat--one would
hardly think needed in this weather; but it seems to be doing her
good, I am thankful to say. If this is pushing your great patience
too far, please do not hesitate to make other arrangements if you
wish to; and I shall no doubt be able to do the same. But I should
love to accept your suggestion if possible.

Yours sincerely,

G. K. CHESTERTON.

DEAR FATHER KNOX,

Just as I am emerging from the hurricane of business I mentioned to
you, I find myself under a promise a year old to go and lecture for a
week in Holland; and I write this almost stepping on to the boat. I
don't in the least want to go; but I suppose the great question is
there as elsewhere. Indeed, I hear it is something of a reconquered
territory; some say a third of this heroic Calvinist state is now
Catholic. I have no time to write properly; but the truth is that
even before so small a journey I have a queer and perhaps
superstitious feeling that I should like to repeat to you my
intention of following the example of the worthy Calvinists, please
God; so that you could even cite it if there were ever need in a good
cause. I will write to you again and more fully about the business of
instruction when I return, which should be in about ten days.

Yours always sincerely,

G. K. CHESTERTON.

DEAR FATHER KNOX,

I ought to have written long ago to tell you what I have done about
the most practical of business matters. I have again been torn in
pieces by the wars of the _New Witness_; but I have managed to have
another talk with my wife, after which I have written to our old
friend Father O'Connor and asked him to come here, as he probably
can, from what I hear. I doubt whether I can possibly put in words
why I feel sure this is the right thing, not so much for my sake as
for hers. We talk about misunderstandings; but I think it is possible
to understand too well for comfort; certainly too well for my powers
of psychological