Letter from Edward Thomas to his wife, Helen Thomas. Archival reference: 424/1/1/1/1/79
Lincoln College, Oxford

14.10.98

My dearest friend

I hope you are well and cheerful, to sympathise with a very wholesome mood of my own, which has found nothing to upset it, in all that has happened today but only pleasure, from the time I had my first delightful glimpse of the (illegible), main quadrangle of Lincoln, so quiet and deserted , filled with the gaudy excursion of flying creeper leaves, to the words of gay acquaintances.

Uneven one maiden Goodnight
Goodnight and may it indeed be a good night with dreams (dreams of harvest perhaps !) Adieu
I spoke to Cornish who is next door to me and to this moment when I sit alone in my hot room and conjure your sweet face through all those miles until it shines by my fireside and your arms are raised to help the (illegible) of your smiles.

Do not ask me to repeat to you all the details which I was obliged to write home, and which you can learn from mother. Truth is I can write nothing to you , but prayers for your good health and comfort ,until I hear how you are from you own self.
In a quarter of an hour I shall be dining in Hall for the first time , and I await it with a little trepidation.

No, I can talk of nothing only I will miss your (illegible) face, until our smiles are sighs , but happy ones.

Goodnight sweetheart I am in life your truest fondest friend Edw and you ever my own sweet little one Helen , my