3rd February 1937

3rd February 1937

Leutstetten to 27 Queen Square, Bath

Dear Madeleine,

Thank you so much for your nice letter. We are O.K. I have a party nearly every day and I enjoy it very much. You see they do give real balls here. It is great. Did you ever go to a real ball? Where one is asked to go to supper with a gentleman? And before and after supper one dances a lot. And then there is a Cotillion. It is after the supper that a gentleman comes as asked one for the Cotillion dance. Then one sits down with him and there are funny tricks one is asked to do. Example: six girls stand up in line and each has got a spoon. And they are to run through the hall and catch a potato on that spoon and run back and put the potato into a kettle. The winner gets a prize, or a girl stands at one end of the room and has to throw an orange to someone of the six gentlemen opposite her and who catches the orange is to dance with her. There are flowers brought in and each gentleman gets flowers to give to his favourite girls and the girls get (illustrated above) that are on a pin which they are to give to the same gentlemen. And between, one dances. The flowers and bows are always the favourite things. I had a ball invitation on Saturday, Sunday, Monday, today again and on Friday. On Saturday we shall give a big tea-party and dancing for about hundred people. Muck and I are rather excited, because we are so shy and don’t know what to do. The ball generally lasts till 4 o’clock in the morning, so we sleep till noon. In the afternoon we go for short walks. There is no skating or ice hockey now, it is too warm and there is water everywhere. How I long for snow. Papa has got a dachshund, a young one since yesterday. It sits by my side and howls, because Papa is gone and she loves him so much already. I can’t think with that howling dog near me. Baby is busy learning with her Fraulein. She is too young to go to parties yet. Ludwig is quite alright again. Only his eye is still a little red from his fall. He hates going to parties. We are rather sorry for it. Deidi did not yet write. Ludwig is going back to Sarvar, to Hungary next week maybe. I am reading Daisy Chain by Mrs Younge. It is very tedious and long and old fashioned. I am quite out of my senses by that howling dog. Besides I am sleepy from all these parties. But they are too nice and I enjoy them very much. Of course I invite you to my wedding only I am afraid I never will be married. I cant think of my being married and having children, could you? I should prove to be a very bad housewife as I am not able to cook or sew or do anything. Baby sometimes writes to Mr Lambert and gets photos and long and funny letters from him. I cant think of anything worth while writing so I say goodbye!

Heaps of love

from Loll

P.S. Please give my love to Mary. I should like to hear from her. Love for ever

Loll

P.S.2. Baby thanks very much for the dates it was she who asked for them, and she sends her love too. Loll