Letter from Edward Thomas to his wife, Helen Thomas. Archival reference: 424/1/1/1/1/163
29.4.1900
Afternoon
My dearest friend,
I am just just back from a country lunch and walk with O’Brien, and feeling quite unequal to letter writing - But I suppose I ought to atone for my unresponsiveness after your delightful letters. I was very glad to have such a cabinet photograph of Philip Merfyn in every possible attitude, I only hope that his interests in his feet does not foreshadow a modesty as ridiculous as mine. That modesty is

any additions. The pictures look well and every book has at least somewhere to lay its head. At present I am trying hard to get through all my work soon, so as to be able to slack for the last week or two and enter The Schools in my best form.
I am going to write to mother. Pardon this brevity. Give my love to Philip Merfyn and let him kiss you for me. I am yours and wholly yours
Edward
Thank mother for the [illegible]
Marie is the same as ever and will probably be a good [illegible] neighbour to me. Of Morgan I have seen nothing yet. You see he is lodging on a hill outside Oxford and will not often descend into the valleys.
The plural of baby is spelt
BABIES, remember,
I fear there is nothing your means can procure for improvement of my room. As a matter of fact it now looks very well, and could hardly stand

particularly distressing in the company of Marie, who is apt to usurp the whole conversation with his chilly epigrams that endure no answer.He came up late last night just after [illegible] disappeared: - they had been dining alone with me and making himself particularly charming, - among other things inscribing my drinking cup with the words VINUM TUUM BIBE CUM GAUDIO
I.e. Drink your wine happily.