Friday, 11 PM.
Dearest sweet little wife:
Today it has been snowing! The weather had been good, with only a bit of rain, until recently - it has been cold, however, down near freezing for some time. I mentioned in last night's letter that it had begun to snow, and this morning the inch of snow was still on the ground. I slept well - the Carpenters' bed was good, as is indeed the Telluride bed. I got up at 8, had breakfast with the C's (Roman meal with dates in it, scrambled eggs, bacon, toast, and coffee) and started for Ithaca at 9. It was clear, and the landscape, part green and part white, was beautiful. Along near Ovid I ran through a light snowstorm for some miles. Back in Ithaca I put my bag in my room and came to the Lab, getting yesterday's letter from you, which I liked - none came this afternoon, the first afternoon missed for a week, but There'll be one tomorrow morning, and then I must wait over Sunday. Dwight told me that Stock asked at W. Straight, where he was staying, for mail on Sunday, and when told that none was delivered said "But I am the Herr Professor". After that he was given mail on Sunday - part of Saturday's held over.
I have written a bit - perhaps 15 pages - today. I have a callous on my little finger (where it rubs the paper) from having written so much.
The big envelope you sent had been opened & was stamped "contains first class material - 6¢ due".) I forgot to tell you that before.
At noon I went to lunch with Dean Ogden, who asked about the Dep't and about possible men. I said Mack was better than Johnston, but neither first-class. Then I returned to the Lab and wrote some more, talked with a student or two, had tea, wrote, went to Telluride for dinner, walked back (the paths are free from snow; so far I have got only a thin layer on coat and hat) and wrote a bit more, with Jack looking up some references for me in the library. I feel rather tired and am going to be earlier than usual tonight, although I'm afraid I won't go to sleep. I have trouble in getting to sleep without my little love with me. I hope you always stay with me after this. I don't want to come back here again. I am to get up early in the morning to get Landsteiner from the train - the one we came on. I got the key to the English car, which I planned to pick up in the morning in front of their house, and then they let it be locked in the court! I'll use Pace's little car instead.
I'm glad you like seeing real estate with Mr Castleman, and that you had a good dinner, and that Mrs Bates was pleased that you are to go with her (or did you go yesterday), and that your cold didn't develop.
I wish I were back with you. I'm going to stay in Pasadena after this. It hasn't been any fun here, except when you were here at first, and you and I could have more fun somewhere else. We live a fine life with our dear little children in Pasadena, and I think that we should enjoy it. Everyone here who has been West wishes that he could return.
I am putting some new ideas in the book, which I hope are correct. There is still much to be written, but I am pretty well satisfied with my progress. Chapter II is being typed, III is about half written, and some other sections are written. I'll rest from writing when I get back with you - and try something that one doesn't tire of.
I love you, my own dear Ava Helen, with every bit of me. Life doesn't mean anything while you are away - I live in a sort of daze, with nothing worth while. The only thing I can stand to do is to work. I think that you should stay with your own
Paddy.