6 November 1917 Edith to Stuart - Letter #20

Edith to Stuart
6.11.17
My Belovéd,
You must be content with a very short note tonight. I seem to have made a failure of my attempts at writing lately, especially last Thursday. What a terrible shock you must have had when you read all that stuff! And don’t ever say again that your “power of expression is not so great as your power of thought”, because I do not seem to have any power of expression at all, or, at least, I have the power of expression just the opposite of what I want to. I did not mean a bit what you thought I did, but I shall not try to explain, because I should only get into a great muddle still. I will just say this, though; - that your answers show that you think almost as I do on the subject, and there I will let it rest.
Your three “wonders whether” were partly correct. I do love an Ideal, but the Ideal is You. Haven’t I sent you a little bit out of a book about the ideal people we love. I believe that there is an Ideal to which every person may attain, but it just depends on themselves whether they attain it, or just muddle on as common clay. But I am getting deep again, and shall make another great blunder, so I’ll stop.
I am truly sorry that last night’s note hurt you, and, if it would do any good, I would recall every word I wrote. But you have read it now, so it is too late. Please forgive me, Dearest, for my thoughtlessness. I seem to betting worse instead of better.
I told you why I wrote all that last night, and now, it seems a most unlikely reason. But for the same reason, because I love you, I am not going to write any more to-night, except a tiny poetry piece.
So, Goodnight, my Dearest, and Goodbye, until the morning.

Is your place a small place?
Tend it with care! ---
He set you there.

Is you place a large place?
Guard it with care! ---
He set you there.

Whate’er your place, it is
Not yours alone, but His
Who set you there.

(c) DearestBeloved 2009