Letter from Edward Thomas to his wife, Helen Thomas. Archival reference: 424/1/1/1/1/156
LINCOLN COLLEGE
OXFORD

4.iii.1900

My dearest Friend,

My small festivities
ended soberly though noisily this
morning at 2am , & now - at
11 on Sunday - the whole thing is as
clear as somebody else's dream ,
for there was not a moment worth
grasping at & holding fast. I made
the mistake of inviting too many - 8.
the only ones whose names you know
were Maine, O'Brien, Hodges, Curran :
besides these , there was Stanford,

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illness is not like memories
of former illnesses - there was
no kindness in any except
the obscene Stanford ; well, &
Maine. Your letters , &
several from Haynes , - some
essays of Lamb & Montaingne ,
were my only Good Samaritans.

By the way , I suppose you
heard I was possibly going out
of college this term? I shall
go with Maine if I go at all.
At present I am searching with him
for two sets of rooms on the same
floor , & awaiting the College's
a very degraded creature , yet with
a genuine , simple heart , much
kindliness & some pathos, who
was very attentive to me when I
was ill ; Wrottesley , a
cleverish artistocratic fresher ; etc etc

But I won't record these absurd
things. Morgan was not there,
nor Elsey. The former is rather run
down & spends his time in brooding
over 'disappointed ambition' etc. the
latter went to see the Oxford & Cambridge
match & is staying for a day or two

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at Richmond - & I had a
mad thought of going to Town &
looking for him there, since
it is so hopeless to appeal to
him here , like eating a
pheasant in June.

Your cake was quite a success,
& the chocolate etc really
improved it as they so
rarely do.

I have almost completely
recovered now & the wine last
night did me nothing but good -
my step is the stronger for it.
But the memory of my slight

LINCOLN COLLEGE
OXFORD

permission to go out. He will be a
sympathetic & interesting neighbour;
& of course we should take our meals
together.

Your good wishes fell like
sweet dew upon an herbless plain ;
& I was glad, but shall
have to wait some time before
they bear fruits. I really haven't
time to think or be happy now, tho
except for Holy Scripture I am not
working hard. Your words
will combine with the sweet

influence of the Pleiades (remember
where they were in March at night)
& work recently in the
fastnesses of my heart.

I received no letter or
presents , & only a few
conventional words from
Maine. But what doesn't
matter? I have three good
friends in Haynes , & a
long way after in Morgan ,
Maine, & MacAlister.

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I want to write to Mother
to do some Testament , &
at 1.30 I go for a walk
with Morgan. It is now
12, so I must say
Goodbye, dearest little
one.

Kiss PM (illegible) for me,
& remember me to Irene
Mary & Mrs. N. , & the two
Hortons. Adieu my
own sweet little one. I am
Ever and wholly yours.
Edwy.