T. E. Lawrence Correspondence – Page 316

To H.Williamson Plymouth, 3.VII.31 Dear H.W. I am web-footed with so much motor-boating, for the R.A.F. set me to test & tune some new types of craft (being-deleted) designed for Rhine. It was (good, deleted) wet fun, and has taken me six hard months. and written nothing. Meanwhile I have read nothing. The Odyssey is unfin- ished (at Book XXI to be exact) but my technical reports clutter up the pigeon holes of Air Ministry In August I must take leave and waste it all in fini- shing the silly old book off. Curse. No Schneider for me this year.- The motor-boats are to be my contribution to the race. Your letter made me jump the tyres of my neglected bike,with a view to seeing you at once. Only then I read the postscript: Next Sunday - I mean Sunday week: the 12th.? Do you think that would do? Forgive me for not reading your latest. It, with many others, lies in a corner of the office of Workshops, here, awaiting its season. You will see proof that I write in working hours if you look at the bottom of the page before: where the oily wrist of my overalls has soiled the page. It is immoral to write in working hours. I wish I could have seen New York, without being seen. T.E.S. Where is Pilleigh from Great Torrington? No, I have just seenit found it. Even Shalloford is on my map. It must be a large manor.