T. E. Lawrence Correspondence – Page 151

[To A.'E.Chambury] LH 9/13/42 1. Firmingham St Southampton S.Y. Dear Jack, I'm, have owed you a letter for long enough, I ... . I could ... this to be long behind men ... & women, truthfully. However, now it's good only. ... thanks ... your ... arri... of books returned safely to their homes{. ... in the cottage I have now collected the traces of my library. Sad relics: so many gaps appear. A... the costly books are there: but of the ... things a large ... go carefully wondering for ... are only left & there to ...a ones survive. Something went very wrong! I am trying to make up the gaps with reprints and ... second-hand. Will you favour me by saying what are in your second batch? I don't want you to send them bag - in a hurry- ... up them just as long as you like - but I am making a list of what there is, making another list of/what desirable extras there should be - and looking through each bishop I see for sto...-gaps. I want your list so as ... repeat what I already ordered. We talked of your coming to the cottage for an autumn visit: you are always welcome, but would be, for the moment, uncomfortable. My Odyssey money is still going on the place: shelves fill the lower room (now the book-room)! The stairs ...- are lined with oak half-rails: the fencing lustres glows like silver in the firelight: the hall room is being cemented round. A water pipe, pump & cistern provide water for the spring. A heater & bath are due. In a month - perhaps less than a month - the workmen will be out of it for good: and then I can turn to organise up interior for comfort. For the moment it is rather an agitated mine, but with hopes promises, but uncomfortable. Yet, as I say, it is yours any time you are given ... liberty and have appetite. A marvellous summer, this has been Yours T.T.S. 143