It is the loveliest old city, interwoven with all the ancient history,
when Flemings and Danes and all kinds of weird aliens invaded or flocked
to these shores. It is beloved by your American tourists; if George and
you did not differ from all American tourists whatsoever, you would have
been here long ago, and could tell me far more about it than is to be
obtained out of the most authenticated guide book. You, however, have
always preferred to take your travel in microscopic doses, to make a
little bit your intimate and dear possession for all time. I am
surprised to find this old Norwich such a noble city, and I should love
to show you the ancient landmarks. It is full of treasures, of values
which cannot be told, or was, rather, for the powers that be have
mysteriously spirited them away, and the priceless stained glass windows
have been boarded up—the very most priceless of all has been taken down.
The fate of Rheims and Louvain and Ypres has made the city fathers wise.
But it is an omen, Cornelia, which keeps me awake o’ nights and gives me
the jumps when I hear the streets resound with the tramp of armed men in
the silent watches—Himself having been summoned with the rest to "stand
to" as they call it, with their faces toward the sea.
The boys have an expression which sums up these frequent forced
marches—they call it "getting the wind up." The wind is up here more
often than I like it, and when I hear quite sober quiet matrons tell
what they will do if the dread moment ever comes when the Hun invades
these shores, I have no strength in me. I am not brave at all,
Cornelia, something has been left out of my composition. This is the
most vulnerable part of our far-flung coast, and there is a great
watching army right along. Those whose duty it will be to guide the
civilian population in case of emergency have what you call the schedule
ready, and nothing will be left to chance. I don’t want to be here when
it happens, my dear; this nameless lurking fear that never sleeps takes
the edge off the joy of being with him. He has no belief at all in the
landing of German troops in England. You know he is an incurable
optimist about the War. He considers that we are invincible and that
victory is only a matter of time. It must be a delightful atmosphere to
live and move and have your being in; it helps to keep one young. He
can sleep through anything and only grumbles when he has not enough of
sleep.
My war experiences are widening. Yesterday we had a bombardment from
the sea—not of Norwich, of course—if you remember your geography you
will know that it is not possible—but of the coast places, Yarmouth and
Lowestoft, less than twenty miles away.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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