Post by sgev1977 on Mar 8, 2018 1:31:18 GMT
It seems it’s a letter Evelyn Waugh wrote to propose to his second wife (a cousin of his first wife):
“Tell you what you might do while you are alone at Pixton. You might think about me a bit and whether, if those wop priests ever come to a decent decision, you could bear the idea of marrying me. I can’t advise you in my favor because I think it would be beastly for you, but think how nice it would be for me. I am restless and moody and misanthropic and lazy and have no money except what I earn and if I get ill you would starve. In fact it’s a lousy proposition. On the other hand I think I could reform and become quite strict about not getting drunk and I’m pretty sure I should be faithful … Also I have practically no living relatives except one brother whom I scarcely know…. All these are very small advantages compared with the awfulness of my character. I have always tried to be nice to you and you may have got in into your head that I am nice really, but that is all rot. It is only to you and for you. I am jealous and impatient – but there is no point in going into a whole list of my vices. You are a critical girl and I’ve no doubt that you know them all and a great many I don’t know myself…. But anyway there is no point in your deciding or even answering. I may never get free of your cousin Evelyn. Above all things, darling, don’t fret at all. But just turn the matter over in your dear head.”
thenovelclub.org/papers/waugh0508.doc