'I am glad all so far has gone well with Meg & the puppy.'

‘Dearest Karl, two puppies arrived this afternoon, both white I should say, & a fair size & lively as far as I can tell. Meg is not exactly happy yet. She made a mess in the [illeg.], scratching up the [illeg.], & she from time to time gives short high barks, as if she might be in pain, but perhaps that will pass off she has drunk g & oats with [illeg.] if held to her, & turns to lick her puppies with affection so I hope she may even be happy.'

'Meg took a really good supper of g & oats after you left, & about 11 a.m. ¾ saucer of raw milk for vitamines [sic]. Then at 3 p.m. when I went in she was stretched on her side full length with the puppy working for all it was worth, & a tremendous noise, hands [sic] & mouth going. Nothing would induce her to come [away?] in any way from herself to eat her beef dinner. Now 4p.m. both are curled up asleep , so I suppose they know best & are having a good rest. If it stops raining I must rouse her & take her in the garden.'

‘Dearest Karl, there seems nothing but misfortune to relate. Now the puppy got out of its box this morning. I don’t think it was out more than 20 min. or so, it was quite warm when I took it up. I was rather late getting up, 7.45 & there was no barking to be let out. I cannot see that it is injured it scrabbles about & sucks & squeaks, but not so vigorous I thought. The worst is I don’t know how to prevent it happening again short of making the jump into the box higher than Meg likes, the higher[?] lid[?] being outwards, & then makes [illeg.] her she lounges[?] on to the puppy, she is so very blind. Still I daren’t [illeg.] the low side out unless I take all sacking away which she snatches into heaps up which I suppose the puppy scrambles and topples over. I must see what I can do tonight. I do feel so cast down they seemed both getting on so well. It may be [Meg?] is out of milk, once[?] when I came in this morning the pup was shoved against the side of the box behind her back, as if quite squashed. However it is useless going in to all details; again at this moment 4.30 [illeg.] it is sucking noisily & she lying extended with all her side previously[?] exposed for its benefit. But she is rather an old fool in some ways.’