Cooper, Ethel – October 1917
14.10.17
My dear Emmie,
My application has been refused again – on Wednesday the police telephoned to say that the refusal had just arrived from Berlin. I refuse to let myself be disappointed for the fourth time.
On Wednesday evening the Jaegers came back, and I don’t like the look of Herr Jaeger at all. He seems to have some rather obscure internal trouble… has lost nearly 2 ½ stone…
I must go and dress, for we are going to the theatre – Herr Jaeger is an impossible patient – he would think the world was coming to an end if he stayed home two nights running, and the theatre does him less harm than restaurants, so we take it in turns to help him amuse himself!
21.10.17
My dear Emmie,
Another week has slipped by, and I am no nearer knowing what I can or can’t do than I was seven months ago.
I do a good deal of housework in the morning…Then I give a few lessons, or take a French or Spanish one, and practise for an hour or two and we waste hours in reading the newspapers, and I go to the theatre or operetta three or four times a week…
I have had no letters from outside since I left the Grassistrasse, and that is nearly a month ago – I feel sure that somebody must have written, but that they are being kept back.
28.10.17
My dear Emmie,
Two days ago the Dutch Embassy wrote from Berlin saying they had taken my case to the German Foreign Office, and finally been told that my pass ‘is withheld for military reasons’! Of course the Embassy can do nothing against that, and all that I can think of is to ask them to write the facts to Aunt Alice, and ask her if she has any influence that would help her to get me exchanged. And another thing I would like to find out, but probably never shall – what does the Foreign Office know, or think it knows about me? This week Frl. Ludicke gave me a letter from Mrs. Gardner that says neither she nor any of my friends have heard anything of me for months….
