Letter from Edward Thomas to his wife, Helen Thomas. Archival reference: 424/1/1/1/1/112
Lincoln College, Oxford
13.10.99
My dearest friend,
I cannot explain how distracted I was when I heard about Irene. Please keep me informed on the subject and whenever you learn her address, let me have it. However, I have already written to her at Patten Rd, tho without mentioning what I know - merely an ordinary friendly letter, with a judicious

painful discord of colours. There are several things I should like, but none we can afford unless it be a strip of dark blue serge five feet long by nine inches wide to hang from the mantle board, and a little pale blue in it or a one inch strip of pale blue at top and bottom. You know what I mean.
My pictures make the walls quite expressive enough, and my mantle piece is crowded with photographs. I only hope
Postscript, asking if I could be of any service to her, put in such a way that she might think I meant books, if she is not in great trouble; but if she is, she will not hesitate to ask for something else. I am most anxious about her. If you see her, remember, remember, to assure her of my sympathy and to ask her to write. When I say sympathy I dont mean pity - tho of course she may need pity, too. But what a position if what you say is true! She looks barren: let us hope she is, or at any rate that she is not pregnant. Poor devil! Hope Le Gallienne will show some honour. Did you know he was that sort then?
My new rooms are very pleasant and papered quite modestly. There is, however, a
Lincoln College
Oxford
Your new room is not very bare.
I can write no more. But how glad I am that you seem so well and contented. I am fairly well, but somewhat restless. Since Haynes left you see I have had no company worth having. Davies always wants whist, I cannot settle down to any such idleness without
sweet little one. Goodbye.
I am yours and wholly yours
Edward.
Goodnight.
Ps I hope the people at Patten Rd will not open my letter to Irene. You might make a cautious inquiry there. I am posting it now.
kept. ( illegible) ideally ( illegible) Morgan and Herbert and Eyfe and McAlister. I have so far done no writing except a short note about the weather..- I wonder in Literature accepting my " unpublished Author"? If they send a proof or cheque, you could forward it at once will you not?- & anything else, too.
I have a charming glimpse of aged wall and crimson fluttering creeper thro (sic) a gap in the battlements outside my window , but no golden poplar!
People are beginning to arrive now - for the day everyone returns - and I am getting restless.
Goodbye then, my own