1946

He advises another small operation, but Christo is hesitant about going through with it, and I don't like to urge him over much. During the war years much of the plaster began cracking and falling from the house walls. I think the house must have settled by now and I'm having Michalis, once our messenger boy, now become a mason, renew it for us. He is a veteran and was a prisoner for four years in Germany but looks almost the same. The many trees we planted before the war have grown up, especially the cypresses, and add much charm to the place. The grape fruit trees, grafted on apricot, which bare only two or three grape fruits in 1939, produced last season as many as two thousand. Their blossoms at the moment are making a fine show, and we hope before they ripen in to luscious fruit that you will be here with us to enjoy them. Lemon, almond, apricot, and guava are doing well too; and the fig is beginning to put on his large leaves, and the lawn in a couple of weeks will be a delight to look on. At present I'm working on the Hellenistic cemetery and hope to have my article almost ready for publication before summer. I think I showed you the first draft last June. I plan then to work on the buildings at Apollo, or on the inscriptions. Meanwhile we all hope some happy fortune will bring you down. Please remember me to Mrs. Hill, and to Mrs. Blegen, of course, too. Yours as ever,

Handwritten: signature

Handwritten: Geo. H. Hill / Episkopi / Limassol / D. Cyprus.