Letter from Edward Thomas to the poet Gordon Bottomley. Sent from Bearsted Green, Maidstone, Kent. Archival ref: 424/1/1/1/10/13
Bearsted Green
24.iv.1904

My dear Gordon

As you will suppose, I
got to London safely on Friday -
for which I have to thank W. B. Yeats,
[illegible] rather than the LNWR Railway. I
spent Saturday morning in dull
business and reached home at tea
time. It was a perfect day, full of
the sounds of cuckoos & nightingales and
the scent of cherry blossom, & my
welcome was just as tender as my farewell
at Cartmel. But I should not have
been so glad to be at home again and
so calmly glad, if I had not been glad
to be away with you all at Well
Knowe. I was such a gloomy and
languid beast very often when I was with
you that I fear you didn't know
how often I was as contented as I am
ever likely to be and all because - I
liked you and your father & mother
& Miss Gordon so well. (By the way,
I am now Helen's riavel as an admirer
of your mother, & we spent some
pleasant competitive moments in
remembering her.) Will you
please say as much and more
(in your unique & expressive, if
regrettable diction? I really
can't say it myself & want you to
translate out of my silence for me.
For yourself, you do not need my
words on paper. Our happy intimacy
needs no compliment, & I dare
to think that perhaps you have some
recollections - I have many - that make thanks unnecessary.
Wellknowe is going into my memory
along with Oxford and The Pilgrim's
Road and the Surry & Wales
& Wiltshire I knew as a child.
Today I have already been
busy at reviews, for there were
more books awaiting me at home.
Also Helen & I are both busy thinking
about a new house. We may,
after all, go to the Red Brick Country.
It is convenient & I have to remember that
if I found a place worth settling in for
ever I might have to leave it to you,
with my uncertain income. So I just
seek a healthy house, near town,
at a moderate rent, and leave perfection
for a happier future. This house i
looking its best now & the green
plants are so fresh & various that
we don't miss the flowers.
Bronwen is wonderfully well,
looking exactly as in her best days, and
with an increasing command of lucid
& effective English. Helen & Merfyn are
perfectly well, & I believe I am
decidedly better.
I hope to see you in London,
& your next visit must be to us.
With Helen's love & mine to you all,
I am ever yours
Edward Thomas

I will send Symon's 'Cities' &
Jefferies's "Field & Hedgerow' tomorrow
Was there another book?