Dear Madam,—I have read your letter several times and I have shown it to Mr. Urible. We both feel the same about it; we feel that we have waited long enough, especially Bert with all the dreadful things in Mesopotamia to put up with, the thermometer sometimes being over 120 and sometimes below freezing in a few hours. But we want to do what is right and what Mr. Urible suggests with his respects to you Madam is that we should be married as soon as possible, as arranged, but that, until you come back in three months or before, I should continue to be the children’s nurse by day. Mr. Urible is taking over Parsons’s shop and garden in the village and we should live there. There are three nice rooms and a good kitchen and scullery, and no doubt a neighbour will cook Bert’s meals for him. Dear Madam we are very wishful to oblige you but Mr. Urible feels that after all he has been through in Mesopotamia it isn’t right that he should be kept waiting any longer.—I am, yours respectfully,
Emily Goodyer