Returned home on Thursday. The weather has been bitter, & in that little house in Wimbledon it was impossible to get warm. None of the doors or windows fit, gales blow all round you when you sit in any of the rooms. There is a large crack in the house from top to bottom & the ceiling in one of the rooms was momentarily expected to fall. Yet for all this Frank, Ursula & Juliana live a happy life. I had a nice time running up to town most days & seeing several of my friends. Had tea at Wimb. on Sunday & so also did George Tromer.

On Wed I went to Winchester to see Nicholas. The master is having great difficulties with him, but I hope he will succeed. It is hard for a schoolmaster to have to do what his parents ought to have done years ago & it is trebly hard on the boy. He is a great anxiety.

Here at home the cold continues. The snow which was on the ground when I went away is still lying about in places & the roads are slippery in parts.

Elizabeth & Philippa are well again.

In yest paper was a threat of the Germans to sink all shipping neutral included in a particular zone round England. Also she threatens to sink all Hospital ships. In the Daily News to day is an article saying that the climax of the war is coming & that the end will not be settled in fighting but by each side trying to starve out the other. There is a feeling of uncertainty now, we know not what is coming & we can make no plans. Added to all this is the long cold winter.

Still no news of Bob.