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To the Mayday Hospital
My darling wife,
… I feel more and more how happy and fortunate I am, even if it does mean the most agonizing frustration too.
I had a pleasant surprise and relief to-day as my patient – ‘the’ one – turned up and was not quite so virulent as before; but what was better, when his father arrived, he started off by saying that both he and his wife were amazed at the change in the boy. He said he was kind, considerate and with a marked sense of responsibility, and that they had never known him like that before. I told him I was very glad to hear it because of course what I saw was all the anxiety and conflict and hate, and that although I could deduce progress that was not the same as an independent witness. Now aren't you pleased? I am. It is one of the things that goes towards making one feel that all the sweat and blood of this business is well worth it – not that one always has such appreciative parents. It is a great load off my mind and it is very gratifying to me because it makes me feel, What a clever husband you've got! …
The patient's father, by the way, had seen The Times announcement and gave his congratulations.1
Darling I can't bear going on writing this as all the things I want to say won't come out in a staid and respectable manner as befits a husband married to such a clever and beautiful wife …