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Transcription: ATR-1

19.4.41. My darling, Well - I've booked my passage! Went to Cooks this morning and reserved a seat on a Dutch plane leaving Singapore in the 1st week in August, and a berth on any ship sailing from here in the last week of July. I chose to travel Dutch because I am told that there are so many "priority" bookings for the British Overseas planes that one can never be sure that one's reservation will be held. The Fergusons have already been deprived of their seats on two planes. So I all I ask now is a quick three months, with no scares, and you. I have told you in my last letter that Stansfeld was considering taking over the flat. He is coming to dinner tomorrow night to talk things over. Last night Mrs. Girondel rang me up about it - said that some friends of hers would like it and I have promised to let her know should Stansfeld turn it down. Her friends number 1 man & 3 women: they would require three bedrooms. I told her just what accommodation I had and that there was no cutlery and little bed linen. Also, I said that I would be glad if above were retained. She said she thought £235 - £240 p.m. a reasonable rental to ask. This would suit me well, but I have already offered the place to S. at no additional rental and I would not break my word to him. Either way, I would not mind: if S. takes it he will be a good tenant and will keep the servants (at least, at one) and if he does not, then these other people will pay more. I should add that Mrs. G. said she could lend her friends (she did not name them) whatever extra furniture they required. She also said that they would be good tenants. Taking every- thing into account I have definitely come to the conclusion that sub-letting is the best solution - if for no other reason that it keeps the furniture in better con- dition and relieves me of the responsibility of looking after them. By the way, the Davies' have agreed to take Sambo. That is a load off my mind: I could never face the children if I had to destroy him - and there are not many people whom I could ask to take him in.