A.A. Laporte Payne letter 16 January 1917

France.

January 16^th 19167

You perfect little darling! So that was the secret.  Thank you so very very much for it.  it is beautiful.  I was more than delighted to get it as you may guess.  I like the colouring very much indeed.  Your lips look very kissable in the picture.  I wish I could have the original all to myself.  I am afraid though you would have a very rotten time.  I am sure you would hate to be made untidy and ruffled.  Wouldn’t you?  I shall have to be careful.  But an intoxicated person is hardly responsible for his actions.

I am so very sorry to hear about Mrs. Cross’ accident. I do hope it did not upset her very much.  Thank heaven you weren’t there.  You seem to be very lucky in getting out of these accidents.  I am glad I was not in the carriage for it would have been doubtful whether I was not the sort of person to bring bad luck.  I hope Mrs. Cross has recovered from the effects.

So you are staying the night with the Gardners – oh!  I hope they are well and that you enjoyed your visit.  Thank you for finding time to write to me from there.  (That is unkind isn’t it.  well I can’t help it sometimes).  You don’t mention Humphrey but I suppose he was there.  I am getting on quite alright.  The Colonel has been behaving himself very nicely, I am glad to say.  In this comparative comfort existance is not so bad, but I feel a brute when our fellows are having such a rotten time in the trenches – but I suppose this won’t last very long.

Please forgive this short note but I must get one off by this post to thank you for what you have sent.

Au revoir,darling.

With love and kisses

Yours

Archie.