Oct 31.17

Dear Mrs. Mayse

I am a fellow guest with your Husband at this Dear & hospitable old House & I have asked Mr.Mayse for your address, briefly that you might perhaps be glad to have a any news of him from [?] were, an outside source.

He is looking, I think I may truthfully say, all the better for the restfulness of the Countryside & I am glad [?] that you once the English autumn should have been kind, should have given us day after day of calm sunshine, so that he should have been able to enjoy in comfort the Golden glory of the great oaks = Elms - the ; "best we can do", on this side of the wide dividing Water to emulate the splendours of you own Canadian Fall - that he should have been able to sun himself quietly on the Old red parapet far from the sound and strife. Though indeed this is hardly so, for in these Garden countries again the quiet plants [?] of the Flanders Guns & squadron of aeroplanes soar to & from above the Oaks by the Avenue guarding the Court - keeping at bay & very effectively so for the most part, the great flights of enemy Zeppelin & [?] steering for London. All the while there is comparatively little here to remind me outwardly of the [?] struggle that nevertheless fills ones thoughts intent always on some one or other Below away in the Trenches of out far-flung line.

Your dear husband declares himself to be feeling really much [?] stronger for this green Rest. It is superfluous though I hope you will not consider it impertinent of me to say how great a pleasure & a privilege it has been felt by every member of the household from the highest to the lowest to have had the good fortune of spending these days under the same roof as Mr. Mayse. You must be well aware of the influence which such a type & the Soldier-Saint as is your husband.[?] fail to increase on those around him. The address which [?] he was good enough to give even fondly in the Old Grey Church made a deep impression on all who heard it - Churchman & listeners alike came gladly to the quiet evening service & I wish you could have seen the eager eyes that were fixed on him & have heard the grateful comments of one or another of his listeners. One could have heard a pin drop in the beautiful old building as they all hung breathless on his words. Now in a day or two, our little party disperses. Our Mr. Mayse has kindly promised to come see me in my London home when next he is on leave & on the [?] Mother-City. And I am hoping also that he will allow me to introduce him to other friends who will feel it indeed a pleasure to welcome him. I wish I could pass on to you the [?] & of the passionate gratitude, the passionate admiration that is felt for you & our Noble Canadian Soldier by our Common - Mother - Country How [?] should it not be so But men of the type of your own husband must be rare in any country & I am grateful indeed for the opportunity that had brought me in contact with him.

Allow me, dear Mrs. Mayse to sign myself

Very sincerely your

Anne [?]