No. 98.
France
18/9/18.

My Dear Nert,

I haven’t any letters from you to answer, but seems to me that it is pretty nearly time I was letting you know again, that I am quite alive.

How in the deuce are you getting along? I imagine the first six months will prove rather difficult, but after that you should get along pretty well.

After the first of the month, I expect to be outside for a change, and it will be a welcome change, as I am rather fed up with so much inside work. The wisdom of the move has just become apparent, as starting to-night, I have to work from 7 A.M., till 10 P.M. with every third afternoon off, but have to be on parade at 6 A.M. as usual, everyday. Of course I cannot complain that the work is hard, but it is tedious, and really my eyes are fierce, I will have them refracted as soon as I have been out a week or two and if there is much change, will get new lenses.

Say Nert, if you want a diversion from your regular work, try “The Three Musketeers” and “Twenty Years After.” I read some years ago, the former and am now at the latter. They are rather different from the line you and I usually read along, and under the present circumstances I find them quite entertaining. In fact, I have become rather interested in the past of this country and after “Twenty Years After,” I intend reading the translation of Duruy’s “History of France.” After that Carlyle’s “French Revolution.” After I have waded thro those – 2 vols. each – I want to get thro (2 vols) “Memoirs of Cardinal de Retz” (by himself) and them Victor Hugo’s “Notre Dame.” I will get all these from Blighty in “Everyman’s” edition and send them on to you as I finish them, so you can read them too. France is certainly an interesting country.

I had a letter from the G.P.O. - London and they are or have arranged for payment of that money order here.

I have never been able to get the powder box off to Floss, but it will soon be here now. The mirror was a very rotten piece and flat so I sent it to Blighty for a proper convex one and they must have thought a great deal of it, as it has been there a couple months.

You had better start sending me milk again. The unsweetened condensed is best. I would also like a couple of boxes of camphor ice.

Sincerely hope you are all well My Dear. Love to all.

Your loving brother.
Worth.