Alex and his aide-de-camp， who is the son of Lord Temple more， have left us after staying two nights. I hope Alex will come back again next weekend. He certainly enjoyed himself painting，and produced a very good picture considering it is the first time that he has handled a brush for six years. I have now four pictures，three of them large，in an advanced state， and I honestly think they are better than any I have painted so far. I gave Alex your message and he was very pleased.

　　The painting has been a great pleasure to me，and I have really forgotten all my vexations. It is a wonderful cure， because you really cannot think of anything else. This is Saturday， and it is a week since we started. We have had newspapers up till Wednesday. I have skimmed through them， and it certainly seems we are going to have a pretty hard time. I cannot feel the Government are doing enough about demobilization， still less about getting our trade on the move again. I do not know how we are ever to pay our debts， and it is even difficult to see how we shall pay our way. Even if we were all united in a Coalition， gathering all the strength of the nation，our task might well be beyond our powers. However， all this seems already quite remote from me on this lovely lake，where nearly all the days are full of sunshine and the weather bright and cool.

　　Much better than the newspapers was your letter， with its amusing but rather macabre account of the journey to Woodford.I am longing to hear how our affairs are progressing. I do hope you are not overtaxing yourself with all the business that there is to do. We shall certainly not forget about Mary's birthday；but let me know what you have done about a present.

　　Considering how pleasant and delightful the days have been，I cannot say they have passed quickly. It seems quite a long time since I arrived，although every day has been full of interest and occupation. I have converted my enormous bathroom into a studio with makeshift easels，and there all this morning Alex and I tried to put the finishing touches on our pictures of yesterday. He has set his heart on buying a villa here on a promontory. I have not seen it inside， but from the outside it looks the most beautiful abode one can possibly imagine， and I understand that inside it is even more romantic， going back to the fifteenth century. He was a little startled when I pointed out to him that no one will be allowed to buy a foreign property across the exchange perhaps for many years.

　　He begged me to stay on here as long as I like，but I think I shall come back the 18th or 19th.Iam doubtful whether I shall stop in Paris. I expect in another ten or eleven days I shall be very keen to get home again. Sarah has been a great joy， and gets on with everybody. She and I both drive the speed－boats. They are a wonderful way of getting about this lake， and far safer than the awful winding roads around which the Italians career with motorcars and lorries at all sorts of speeds and angles.

　　Charles plays golf most days. There is a very pretty link here， and he has fierce contests with himself or against Ogier. His devoted care of me is deeply touching.

　　You maybe amused to see the elaborate form in which your telegram， which I rejoiced to receive today，was sent.

　　His dictation over， Churchill continued in his own handwriting：

　　My Darling I think a great deal of you＆ last night when I was driving the speed-boat back there came into my mind your singing to me' In the Gloaming’ years ago. What a sweet song＆tune＆how beautifully you sang it in all its pathos. My heart thrills and I love to feel you near me in thought. I feel so tenderly towards you my darling＆the more pleasant＆agreeable the scenes＆days， the more I wish you were here to share them＆ give me a kiss.

　　You see I have nearly forgotten how to write with a pen. Isn't awful my scribbles？

　　Miss Layton has heard from her 'boy-friend’in S. Africa that she is to go out there（not Canada） immediately if possible to marry him. So she is very happy. Yesterday the South African officers came from their hotel＆took her out to 'water-plane’ behind their speed boat. She looked very handsome whirling along in the water＆made three large circles in front of the villa before she tumbled in. Sarah is writing you now. The DB is starting.

　　我最亲爱的：

　　亚历克斯和他的副官坦普莫尔勋爵的儿子，到我们这里来呆了两个晚上。我希望亚历克斯下周末再来。他十分喜欢作画，而且果真画了一幅特棒的画，就他摆弄了六年的画笔而言，这也是他前所未有的。现在我画画十分娴熟，画了四幅，其中三幅还是大幅的。老实讲，这几幅画是迄今为止我画的最棒的了。我把你的情况告诉了亚历克斯，他听后很高兴。

　　作画可谓其乐无穷，我的一切烦恼也因此而冰释雪融。作画真不失为一个奇特的疗法，因为此时人们不会再有其他杂念。今天星期六，我们出发至今已有一个星期了，可直到星期三我们才收到一些报纸。我浏览了一下，预感到我们肯定将经历一段艰难的日子。我感到我们的政府并没有竭尽全力去裁军；也没有重新大力开展我们的贸易。我不知道我们如何去偿还债务；更不知道如何可以不举债。即使我们都组成一个联邦，集中起全国的所有力量，要想完成我们所面临的这个任务也是鞭长莫及。不过，这一切似乎离我很遥远，在这片美丽的湖上，几乎每天我所感受到的唯有明媚的阳光和凉爽宜人的气候。

　　你的那封讲乌德福有趣且相当惊险之行的信比报纸可好看得多。我想知道我们的事情进展如何，真希望你不要给自己负担过重。我们不会忘记玛丽的生日，不过，请告诉我你准备了什么礼物。

　　在此的日子虽说很轻松愉快，但仍感过得很慢。每天都很充实、有趣，但依然感到似乎来此已很久很久。我把那间大浴室改成了一个带有临时画架的工作室，今天一上午亚历克斯和我都呆在那儿，努力完成昨天的画。亚历克斯决心在这儿的一个海角上买一幢别墅。我没有看过里面的陈设，但就外表而言，确是人们所能想象得出的最漂亮的住宅。我听说室内更为浪漫，充满了15世纪的情调。不过，当他得知多年来不允许通过交易购买外国地产时，颇感惊讶。

　　亚历克斯说如果我愿意，可以继续待在这儿。但我想18或19号就回来。我还在犹豫途中是否在巴黎停留，但我多么希望再过10天或11天之后能回到我渴望已久的家。莎拉给我们带来了极大的快乐，她和大家相处得很好。我们俩一起驾着快艇驰骋于湖上，好不刺激，好不惊险，而且比起意大利职业赛车手在糟糕的崎岖不平的小路上全方位、全速驾驶小汽车或卡车可是安全得多。

　　查尔斯大多数时间都在打高尔夫球。这里有一个很漂亮的高尔夫球场。有时他自己打，有时与奥吉尔对打。他对我悉心的照料使我深受感动。

　　很高兴今天收到了你的电报，想必你对精心策划的电文格式也感到好笑吧。

　　亲爱的，我太想你了。昨晚我驾着快艇返航时，耳边便萦绕着你多年以前对我唱的一首歌“在黄昏”。多么动听的歌！多么优美的曲调！你唱得又是那般地哀婉动人！我的心在激烈震颤，炽热的爱使我感到你就在我身边，是那样的温柔！亲爱的，这里的风光愈是赏心悦目，我就愈强烈地渴望着你能来到我身边与我分享这一切。请来吻吻我吧！

　　瞧，我几乎不知道如何拿笔了，胡画一通，一定糟糕透顶。

　　雷顿小姐收到了她“男朋友”从南非的来信。如有可能，她会立即去南非（不是加拿大）与他成婚，因此她高兴极了。昨天几个南非官员从旅馆来，把她带到一架“水上飞机”上，那玩意就停在快艇的后面。她在水上旋转着，在别墅的前方转了三个大圈才跌落下来，真是棒极了！萨拉现在也在给你写信。晚餐铃响了。