Dear Mother

I have arrived here quite right after an excellent crossing. The Kerrys almost missed the train at Oxford of course, and came to the boat just with a minute to spare. The journey down to Southampton was uneventful, except for scares about the luggage going wrong. I rode straight to Netley, and caused a spirit of eager enquiry to be manifested by the youth of Southampton. Netley is as fine as if not finer than I had imagined. It is certainly the finest ruin I have seen, and much the most picturesque. I do not think that the Chapter House guest room can be equalled. Coming back from Netley I went to Bakers and got my hat and then got notepaper and Post Card Album. In the Hartley Institute they have some excellent Encaustic Tiles, well worth going to see: the collection of local objects is also good. On going to the boat I passed the Deutschland, having her bows repaired as a sequel to the Dover collision. On board the boat I found my berth, and deposited all my spare goods, and then put on the extra thick coat (this information is for Mother). The Moon was full and glorious: Mr. Kerry and I stayed up till about 11.30 looking at it; I cannot say whether the cloud effects or the reflection on the water were the best, but the "ensemble" was perfect and left nothing to be desired. I never before understood properly Tennyson's "Long glories of the Autumn Moon" but I see his reasons now for mentioning it so often, it was so different from the pale moon of the land. The moon was out from about seven to four, and there were heavy clouds with continuous lightning in the East. We only had about ½ hour's rain. The sunrise was on the whole a failure, there was nothing so good as the sunset before., About 2 we passed between Sark and Jersey. Tell Chimp. I was not much impressed with the latter. It was all too dark and gloomy, for a residence; the only bright spot was the Corbière Light-house. St. Malo was reached before six, but we had to wait till seven before landing. The sea was very choppy and irregular with a strong swell around the Channel Islands. Everyone in the boat appears to have been sick with the exception of four or five, among whom Mr. Kerry and myself were prominent. I found Mons. Chaignon at the Douane; we recognised each other at the same moment. He has hardly changed at all, if anything he is a trifle stouter. The Customs people were chalking all the baggages as fast as it appeared, they do not seem to have opened any: there was a fearful crush; I should think there were 120 bicycles. I saw Mr. Fécélier for a moment but had no time to discuss any economical questions with him. The Chaignons have some most wonderful carved furniture, and most valuable works of art in their house; I never saw the equal of a buffet in the dining-room, while a buhl table in the drawing room beats any at Warwick Castle. I shall not have enough money to buy any of the things however. I must economise strictly; I have only ten shillings over what will be taken up in the tour. The ticket cost 30/-and Father took 10/-, which only left £4-10-0 for an eight days' trip and the hat and other articles have already come out of it. Mr. Corbel is not in Dinard but in a place about 60 miles off. The Lefevriers inhabit the house the other side of the road: the Chaignons send all sorts of messages for Bob; it took me nearly ten minutes to explain all about the Brigade to them; it was about the first thing they asked me. They also send dittos to you and the other nippers. Poor Hall is not 1st in Locals after all. Love to yourself. (Don't do any work at all). To Father and to all the other worms down to the smallest. Just off to post.

Ta Ta.