From Arthur to Stella: ‘they are good kids and I really am proud of them’

Wednesday
Chiswick
Angel,
I’m afraid I haven’t a lot of time left after writing to the children, but they have been so good that I felt they had deserved it. It’s so hard to convey your appreciation to children in writing. On the last night at home, when I was tucking them in, I asked them to try to help you but I didn’t think at the time they would take it to heart so. They are good kids, aren’t they, and I really am proud of them. It looks as if they are developing a real “team” spirit in the house.
What time did you go to the doctor’s today? I have been thinking of you a lot since nine o’clock. Before that I didn’t have much time for I never stopped for six solid hours, except to reel up my tapes. We got snowed under with work. It looks as if they are prepared to enlarge the staff here for they are putting a new bench in the centre of the room for six more machines! If they don’t fill the place with Wrens we should be OK for a time.
But all that is beside the point at the moment. I’m impatient now for tomorrow to come round and to get the full news of what the doctor has to say about you. By now, of course, you’ll have the full “dope” on the situation. I should have arranged to ring you at the phone box at the corner of Northern Road, tonight. Or, as it turns out, you could have rung me at Bill Summers’ tonight! Fancy me not thinking of that before. I want kicking to death. Still, I suppose I will have to bide my time as best I can. I’ll slip home at dinner time tomorrow and collect your letter. Otherwise I’ll never settle down to work, knowing that it is lying here waiting for me. I’m relying on you for a full report.
Well, angel, there’s nothing really new to report. I still love you, precious, and like you I feel as if I have been away from home for months and months. I don’t seem to be able to settle down somehow. I’m still regarding Whitehall as a resting place for a brief spell, so I’ll probably be here for months! Now I must go and post this and ring Emily to find out how to get to their place.
All my love, angel, and here’s hoping for good news tomorrow.
Bye, my love, until then.
Ever your own,
Arthur X