section7mfu | The 'Correspondence' Affair #28 - June 22, 1913 (Millicent to Alexander)

From : Carchemish, Turkey

June 22, 1913

My dearest Alexander,

This letter will be posted as we leave Carchemish. I've have been here longer than expected, but Lawrence is coming with me. He is headed to England and will be dropping me off on the way. You will doubtless hear the same from him in his letter, but with the situation in the area, he felt more comfortable with the idea of escorting me rather than trusting that to others. He is of the same opinion as you that the outbreak of another war is looming.

I have found him to be an intriguing man during the time we have gotten to know one another. He even introduced me to Miss Fareedeh, who was one of the ones that helped him to learn Arabic. I've picked up a bit of it myself from the time I've spent here. Not enough to say that I can speak it, but I can at least get the gist of some conversations and manage to make myself understood – albeit on the level of about a four-year old child. Still, that is more than I could have done two months ago. There is just something about learning languages that appeals to me. Or perhaps it is simply that I cannot bear for a conversation to be going on that I cannot comprehend in the least. However, if I must choose between describing myself as either intellectually curious or nosy, I think I shall remain intellectually curious.

The Euphrates remains in flood and, for some reason last month, Lawrence decided to try his canoe out on it. I think he was trying to prove some point or other to the other men when he asked me to accompany him, but as I deem him not to be the suicidal sort, I agreed to go. Not a bit like the Thames, I must say. It probably does not say a great deal for my common sense, but I found it rather exciting. By the by, I believe you formed the wrong opinion on him regarding women. It isn't that he only views those over fifty as being good for conversation, it is that only those over fifty have tea parties and other gatherings where the conversation is worthwhile. You were right, however, in your thought that he has run into a few too many gigglers.

When I return, I hope to find a letter from you which I shall read as soon as I manage to get Ermengarde to release me. I am fond of her, but I must admit she is a touch clingy, so I fear that I shall not be able to move out of her sight for at least a week after my return. I suppose it is a good thing that I was well forward in most of my studies as I now have a two month gap to make up.

There are other things I would like to tell you about these days here, but that shall have to wait until I am back at school.

Yours as always,

Millicent