Bustamente had a teasing nature, which in his case took the form of leading a bloody revolution against colonial rule

The Jamaican Prime Minister, Sir Alexander Bustmente, was the living double of Obbie [12th Duke of] St Albans, and whenever I saw one of them, I always thought it was the other. Like Obbie, Bustamente had a teasing nature, which in his case took the form of leading a bloody revolution against colonial rule

D. Devonshire, Wait for me (2010), 212

You will not find a word in this to offend your protestant sympathies.

[Evelyn Waugh sends the Duchess of Devonshire a copy of his Life of Monsignor Ronald Knox]

The inscription read, 'To darling Debo with love from Evelyn. You will not find a word in this to offend your protestant sympathies.' There were no words - all the pages were blank. The perfect present for a non-reader.

D. Devonshire, Wait for me (2010), 156 

But Debo christened him after her favourite jockey. She's never heard of the Duke of Wellington.

James Lees-Milne recorded in his diary that the Duke of Wellington was furious when he heard that Debo had called his son 'Morny', which happened to be a diminutive of the Wellesley title Lord Mornington. 'How would you like it,' he complained to the Duke of Devonshire at a party, 'if I christened my grandson Harty of Burlington?' Nancy broke in, 'But Debo christened him after her favourite jockey. She's never heard of the Duke of Wellington.'

M.S. Lovell, The Mitford girls (2001), 385, note 1 (p.564) 

Citing J.Less-Milne, Prophesying peace (1999), 345 

How do people expect a church to keep going for 3 occasions in a lifetime?

It set me thinking how strange it is that a man who had never set foot in his village church should wish to have his funeral service there. Churches are used 3 times it seems, wedding, christening & funeral. At the first two, solemn vows are made which people have no intention of keeping-at the last trump I suppose there’s a glimmer of hope of everlasting life in a sort of heaven. Can you explain it? How do people expect a church to keep going for 3 occasions in a lifetime? A sort of superstition, a leftover from childhood? It soon won’t be that as few children are taken to church in the way that our generation was.

Deborah to Diana, 3 September 1999, ed. C. Mosley, The Mitfords: Letters between Six Sisters (2007), 876

She was mad of course

How strange it is, this adoration & beatification of the princess. If only they knew. It just shows how humans must have an icon and there she was, beautiful, elegant and charming & quite extraordinary with ill or old people – I’ve seen her at work & it was a case of touching the hem, almost unbelievable. BUT ‘they’ have no idea of the other side. She was mad of course.

Deborah to Diana, 2 September 1997, ed. C. Mosley, The Mitfords: Letters between Six Sisters (2007), 868

Not a real church like Swinbrook, more a hall with kitchen food

Dink/Terry are coming here from June 11 to 21, I’m so excited for their visit. She/Benj are planning a 50th wedding anniversary for Bob/me on 20 June – you’ll be getting an invite. It’s to be at what Benj calls the ‘FUCK’, i.e. First Unitarian Church, Kensington. No Hen not a real church like Swinbrook, more a hall with kitchen food. 

Jessica to Deborah, 14 May 1993, ed. C. Mosley, The Mitfords: Letters between Six Sisters (2007), 812

I suppose he did it to force me to buy a wig

My hair was cut in London by what I thought was a faithful hairdresser. I was writing to you & Honks & Woman & not watching him & lo & behold I am an active Lesbian, Irma Grese, a prison wardress, a Great Dane breeder, anything but an ordinary English woman. I suppose he did it to force me to buy a wig.

Deborah to Nancy, 14 October 1968, ed. C. Mosley, The Mitfords: Letters between Six Sisters (2007), 607

She always asks them (a) why they became clergymen (b) if they wish they had been made a bishop and (c) if they enjoy sleeping with their wives.

Andrew says he insists on having the [Christmas] Tree either before Birdie [Unity] comes or after she’s gone as she embarrasses him so much with the clergymen as she always asks them (a) why they became clergymen (b) if they wish they had been made a bishop and (c) if they enjoy sleeping with their wives. I must say I do see.

Deborah to Diana, 1 December 1946, ed. C. Mosley, The Mitfords: Letters between Six Sisters (2007), 255