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T. E. Lawrence to Miss L. P. Black
13 Birmingham Street
Southampton
5.3.34
Dear Miss Black
Two more absences on
duty - but yesterday eventually we cracked the pudding. My landlady
boiled and boiled it, spurred on by my promise of a share if she did it
properly: and finally we all agreed that it had been an extraordinary
good pudding. As a matter of fact, it is too soon to talk of it in the
past tense. It is passing, certainly; but there will be more on
Wednesday when I get back here from London: and I doubt (unless the
landlady is greedy) if even that will be its past tense. A huge pudding
and excellent. Thank you very much. They do improve with keeping: and
are better apart from the rather forced associations of Christmas, don't
you think?
Now about my
cottage! Please no furniture. I have had great satisfaction and some
exasperation in building everything that goes into place. Fenders,
chairs, table, couches. It has two rooms and two of everything,
accordingly: the whole place is designed for just the single inhabitant!
It has neither rugs nor paint nor plaster nor wallpaper. Panelling;
bookshelves; bare wood and un-dyed leather. A queer place, but great
fun. No pictures or ornaments.
However I agree that
you ought to be associated with some item of its interior: your kindness
over so many years must be perpetuated. And I went there last Thursday
and sat and thought. Tea-spoons, it is: and as tea is for visitors there
should be four of them, I think. As yet I have no tea-cups or plates,
but I have found a pottery near Poole and a month ago I threw a sample
cup and saucer, which is drying. When it dries well, I hope to glaze it
with galena, a lustrous brown-black which I used with great success
before the war for earthenware - and then I shall have a decent
tea-service.
So if you agree,
will you send me four plainish tea spoons for four black tea-cups-to-be?
It will be a very pleasant service and memory. Not yet memorial, while
we both are alive ands kicking; but memory, certainly. I hope to visit
Torquay this summer and revive it, too!
Yours
T E Shaw
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