on to me in 1931 or 1932 by Sir Edward Blair - practically brand new at the time

and almost a perfect fit - which might well be appropriate for evenings in the

lounge or dining room of any guest houses where I might lodge. What I do not

possess, however, is any suitable travelling clothes - that is to say, clothes

in which I might be seen driving the car - unless I were to don the suit passed

on by the young Lord Chalmers during the war, which despite being clearly too

small for me, might be considered ideal in terms of tone. I calculated finally

that my savings would be able to meet all the costs I might incur, and in

addition, might stretch to the purchase of a new costume. I hope you do not

think me unduly vain with regard to this last matter; it is just that one never

knows when one might be obliged to give out that one is from Darlington Hall,

and it is important that one be attired at such times in a manner worthy of

one's position.

 

During this time, I also spent many minutes examining the road atlas, and

perusing also the relevant volumes of Mrs Jane Symons's The Wonder of England.

If you are not familiar with Mrs Symons's books - a series running to seven

volumes, each one concentrating on one region of the British Isles - I heartily

recommend them.

 

They were written during the thirties, but much of it would still be up to date

- after all, I do not imagine German bombs have altered our countryside so

significantly.

 

Mrs Symons was, as a matter of fact, a frequent visitor to this house before the