| Description | Letter from Amelia Nyasa Laws, Hotel Beau Site, Chamonix, Haute Savoie, France, to her relatives, regarding the perfect weather; description of view; no Protestant service yet; understaffing of the French consulate delayed them last week; Vita has advised Uncle to leave Rome for a rest; their baker is closing and there will only be sour bread after he goes; he is not as necessary in Rome as he pretends; good journey, via Pisa and Genoa, with no trouble at Modane; fair hotel at Aix; even her sandfly bites felt better once they were in the mountains; Aunt is looking better already; enquiries on behalf of the Misses Hope as to work at Aix; meeting with Miss Stewart 'my quondam enemy' and her mother; she was not looking well; her brother has just been knighted for his services in India; they live in the big palace overlooking the Trajan Forum; Miss Stewart usually dresses in purple and green; Mrs. Gibson regards her as difficult; she has been thrown out of the Embassy work party; she dismisses massage as not nursing; the Hotel Bristol in Aix is the headquarters of a branch of the Red Cross organised by Lady Menzies; they discover that massage skills would be very welcome at the hospital there; Lady Menzies' work is hindered by the rivalry of three ladies' societies in Aix; her daughter is very jolly; courage in Chamonix despite the local bereavements; all the spare time is spent knitting for the soldiers or embroidering things to be sold in aid of the Red Cross; the hotels are opening, mostly to English guests and soldiers on leave and in health (Belgian, French and English); possible visit of John Geddes, son of a friend who is a sergeant; thanks to Aunt Amy for fetching a book for her from Thin's; her plans are still not settled, but Mme. Lacuffer, in charge at Aix, has begged her to return and work there; Aunt is in favour of it but Amelia is waiting for Uncle's arrival for the final decision; final comments on the visit of Mackinnon and Craig. |