Northlands, Englefield Green, Surrey. - Sorry not to have seen or heard from Bessie this autumn; misses her very much and was 'distressed' to hear from Donald [Tovey] that there has been 'some sorrow' in their house. Encourages her not to 'lose the habit' of visiting, even if the concert dates do not suit. Has been very busy with work, and worried about Donald's symphony; this has turned out 'a huge and... beautiful and splendid thing', as far as she can judge, but he has 'only just finished the third movement', all of the finale still needs to be put on paper, 'and he starts for Germany on Friday next!'. Four copyists are already at work on it. He stayed very 'serene and equable' until some 'annoying letters' came a few days ago from Hugh Godley, whose conduct 'as an English gentleman' and as Donald's friend she doubts, and now his appearance worries her. Fears this will always be the case; 'the thought of leaving him truly makes [her] afraid of death'. But the symphony exists, it would not be too terrible even if the performance were be delayed; Donald will recover and she thinks he will finish the opera ["The Bride of Dionysus"] quickly now. Invites Bessie to stay the night on Thursday if the Klinglers stay; has just had a card from [Karl?] Klingler.
Northlands, Englefield Green, Surrey. - Hopes Julian will not 'despise' the enclosed too much; they could perhaps usefully turn into 'boot bags'; she has had them a long time and 'the Papa and Mamma and their eight children are great friends', Bessie must give them all the 'names of famous Dutchmen'. Is very happy to have Donald [Tovey] back, but everyone thinks he is 'very overstrained and braintired'; perhaps he will talk to Bessie about 'this extraordinary conduct of Hugh Godley's' which she wishes she knew more about than 'very disquieting fragments'. A 'blessing' that he is going abroad to play his concerto; she would love to go and hear it if he would not object to her 'trying to look after him'. Will send Donald 'out of the midst of the party' to Bessie.
Northlands, Englefield Green, Surrey. - Donald [Tovey] has returned, and she feels 'white faced and strained looking and estranged as he is' that he is glad to be home; however he is certainly an invalid, and must 'as Willy Strecker' urges be treated like one. Entreats Bessie not to let him refer to 'the horrible things of this last autumn' again; he will come to see 'he was blinded by arrogance and the feeling as he said himself... that he was teaching Casals that he, Donald, was the 'top dog'' so fell 'victim to Guilhermina's urgent need to wrench her husband's love back'. She will not refer to all this, or to Hugh Godley's conduct, again. Donald's reactions 'are not "passionate misunderstandings" - it is what is his heirloom'; only this 'explanation and excuse' makes it still possible for this to be his home; he will be 'ill like this again'. He is currently 'writing reams of letters', many she thinks to 'little [Adolf] Busch', which makes her nervous; but his interests in the opera ["The Bride of Dionysus"] have been roused again and she longs for it to be finished. Donald thinks his concerts will be his last in London, and she fears he may be right; he talks of going to Bessie around the 30th, but she herself 'longs' to see her and Julian before that.
Northlands, Englefield Green, Surrey. - Just returned from seeing Mr [Willi] Strecker in London, a visit she found difficult due to her recent heart trouble; they tried to see what could be done to 'save something from the wreck of the Chelsea Concerts' but this is not much. Her 'poor Donald [Tovey]' is undoubtably ill'; begs Bessie not to speak or write to him about the Casals [Pablo and Guilhermina Suggia] and not to discuss her or repeat anything she has said if possible. Asks her to send back the note about 'what took place in Mr [Hugh] Godley's office on the 1st of November'. Godley's 'conduct towards Donald this year... is inexplicable'; can only imagine it is somehow 'connected with Adila v[on] Arányi'; 'he has done his best to ruin Donald', working skilfully to 'detach him from Casals'; now he has 'shown his hand' and declared he will have nothing to do with the Chelsea Concerts. There is 'also Mr [Murray Coutts?] Trotter's sentimental stupidity'. Donald should not have seen a word of Guilhermina's 'ridiculous romances', nor been told 'he would have to bring a lawsuit against Pablo lest P. should think him weak'; is very sad Professor Röntgen showed Donald her 'piteously anxious telegram to Vienna'. Asks if everyone is 'against her' in her 'efforts to guard' Donald, and whether they know 'what the dangers are'; fears she will have to write to the Toveys' 'little solicitor', who appeals to her to help him 'prevent Duncan [Tovey] from robbing Donald' to asks if she can prevent 'Duncan from having the custody of his brother if he should become worse'. Donald keeps writing letters 'full of the foulest language about the Casals' and towards her; he has also written such a letter to Mr Strecker, saying her telegram to Röntgen showed she did not believe in 'his freedom from crime'. Has only written the letter to Donald of which Bessie has seen a copy [8/78] and another saying she 'can receive no more such letters' and will never mention the Casals again. Willy Strecker only mentioned his letter to prove Donald is ill. Donald says he will not return unless she joins 'in abusing Casals and praising [Donald's] every act - and Hugh Godley's'. Wonders Casals did not 'shoot him there and then' if Donald behaved even a fraction as badly in Spain. Hopes to get him well again, but only if the few friends she can trust, amongst whom she numbers Bessie, will help her.
Northlands, Englefield Green, Surrey. - Thanks Bessie for all her 'kind words'; thinks she had better read the enclosure, which is 'practically' what she has written to Donald [Tovey] then burn it. Donald must be 'very hardworking and very humble and courteous' if she is to continue 'making a home for him'. This business [the quarrel with Pablo Casals] shows him to have been 'a self righteous arrogant goose' and 'that young woman' [Guilhermina Suggia] has 'sized him up'. Donald writes 'gaily' that she should write and ask Enesco to find another cellist. Wishes 'he had run away with Guilhermina - she might have prevented such follies and made him work'. Intends to ignore the existence of the concerts, though has already given fifty pounds towards them. Is sorry for Willy Strecker. Thinks Donald's letter to Casals 'odious'; told her brother he should never have let Donald send it; he agrees and was amazed at 'the moderation and dignity of Casals' reply'. Donald should have left the 'London gossip' alone, which would have denied Guilhermina the opportunity of 'poring out all her amusing venom'. Casals denied to her that he had accused Donald of anything other of being 'too assiduous in his attentions'; she is very sorry for him. Wrote and telegraphed Donald warning against his friendship with Guilhermina and urging him to come home to see his sick father. Told Henry [her brother] that he was 'the fourth Oxford man to have been a fool about this business'. Is very worried about Donald as these 'bouts of loss of self control' are becoming more frequent and more violent; the 'Speyer business' was bad enough. He needs to work hard, and 'earn his Vienna ticket now by two articles in the Times'. Thanks Bessie about Christmas; Donald says he ought to go and see his aunt in Wales. In a postscript written after she has read Bessie's letter again tells her not to say 'how well in health and sane' Donald is since the 'only excuse for his behaviour is that he is ill, which makes him 'just like his father'. Has just received 'another horrible letter from Donald', enclosing Hugh Godley's letter. Godley 'wished Donald to break with Casals' and wishes him to break with her. Is telling everyone who asks that Donald's health alarms her. Her brother agrees it was very wrong of him to go to Vendrell after 'the Vienna episode', which she herself had not known of.
18 Mansfield Street, Portland Place, W.—Is unable to lunch with him tomorrow, but suggests other arrangements. Explains a remark she made about Hugh and Violet at Easton Grey.
(Dated Tuesday.)
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Transcript
18 Mansfield Street, Portland Place, W.
Tuesday
I dont know whether you did expect me to lunch tomorrow, I rather think you didnt, but just in case you did I write to say that I find I cant, as Mother has to go away for these two days and may be coming back at luncheon time so I think I must be in as she will possibly have arrangements to make with me. But will you lunch here, or do come and see me in the evening, any time after 6.30 would suit me as I am going to the Club {1} and shall be doing nothing till I start about 7.30.
I want to assure you again that my remark at Easton Grey was not meant to have the slightest personal application, and indeed when I made it I was thinking rather of the disadvantages from Hugh’s point of view than from Violet’s.
Venetia
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{1} The Archie Gordon Club camp at Lulworth.
Northlands, Englefield Green, Surrey. - Is 'devoured by anxiety about Donald [Tovey]': saw him off at Charing Cross 'looking as he did during those dangerous months of depression in the beginning of 1906'. Had a long talk with Willy Strecker after Donald left this morning: Hugh Godley has done a great deal of mischief, and still wants Donald to 'bring an action' [against Pablo Casals]. Thought Strecker 'most wise', and regrets Donald did not send him his letter to Casals before dispatching it. Fears from Donald's own account that the letter he sent to Casals in Liverpool was 'very argumentative Toveyish "I have the last word"' in style. Has got him a room in the same hotel as [Julius Engelbert] Röntgen in Vienna; asks Bessie if she could write to Röntgen and tell him how anxious Miss Weisse is so that he might send her some news of Donald. Is also dreadfully sorry for Pablo. Hopes Bessie found Julian well; thanks her for coming on Tuesday.
Northlands, Englefield Green, Surrey. - Thanks Bessie for her kind note; wishes she could 'just ship Donald [Tovey] off to Amsterdam', but he is going to play in Leeds then representing Oxford at the centenary of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Vienna. He is much better again, though things are 'still very difficult' for her. The gossips in London say Hugh Godley declares 'he will not rest till he has detached Donald' from her; 'whatever is really best for Donald' will be best for her and she is not afraid as long as he 'remains his own good self'. Wishes he could go and stay with the Röntgens and Bessie; he is with Neville Lytton at the moment. The Klinglers [Klingler Quartet] are coming to Northlands when they will have more of his music, and [Adolf] Busch is going to put on his music in Vienna, so she hopes 'proper appreciation is in sight at least'. Wishes Ariadne ["The Bride of Dionysus"] were finished. Donald has shown her a letter from Guilhermina Casals [Suggia] written in Munich, which he says 'was exactly like the one to Madame Röntgen'. Is convinced the letters were not written by Guilhermina but by Pablo [Casals]: they are not at all in her style. It is 'the most frightful tragedy': she believes Guilhermina still values Donald 'rightly', but love Casals and had to write the letters or 'be thrown out into the street again' so she has betrayed Donald. Asks if she can have Guilhermina's letters to her back; Donald took them but said she ought to have them. Has also received a letter from 'old Madame Casals', asking her to write her a 'bonne lettre'. Thanks Bessie for seeing to her 'poor little chain'. Has sent Donald Bessie's letter at the Lyttons.
Northlands, Englefield Green, Surrey. - Thanks Bessie for her kind note, which has 'calmed Donald [Tovey] very much'; they need this as he has 'turned on' her as he did after his mother's death four years ago 'and the other horrors at Worplesdon'; he is behaving just like 'his unhappy Father', involving her in quarrels with her 'nearest friends' and 'doing nothing all day long'. Is very tired and finds it hard to take care of him, and cannot send him to the Trevelyans. He 'watches every post'. Everything has gone wrong since Hugh Godley 'began to meddle and insist on Donald's "refuting" [Pablo] Casals' slander' [about Guilhermina Suggia]; as if his own in the summer 'was not far worse'. Thanks for the chain, and for bringing Donald's things. Hopes to hear 'the results of Prof. Rontgen's kind endeavours soon' though she does not feel very hopeful.
Alderley Park, Chelford, Cheshire.—Sends news of the Asquiths, whom she saw in London, and other friends. Is going to learn fencing, and has been skating and hunting. Urges him to check the untruths spread by the Eye Witness and Belloc. Will return to London after the Pride of Cheshire’s wedding.
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Transcript
Alderley Park, Chelford, Cheshire
Nov 6th 1912 Wednesday
Thank you for a letter (if you can call such a sparse communication one!) written just before reaching Bombay {1}. I got the impression that your journey had gone on being fairly dull all the time.
I spent most of last week in London, staying at Downing St. I saw not very much of the P.M. Do you remember saying how much he varied in his liking for me, and that sometimes he quite liked me and at others not at all, well this was one of the not at all times. He was horribly bored by my constant presence at breakfast, lunch and dinner (Oliver interrupts me to play chess, I hope I shall beat him). He seemed much better tho’ and said his shoulder didnt hurt him at all and he was playing golf regularly. I was very glad to see the old boy again, he is quite one of my favorite people. Margot was very funny, Violet said she had been rather complaining and crusty lately and still very much against Violet’s and my habit of seeing and liking to see our friends rather than our acquaintances. The first day I was there I was slightly crushed, or should have been if it had been anyone but Margot, by her saying to me when we were out together. “I cant tell you how sick I get of seeing your face, I can cry sometimes at the sight of you and Bluey and Bongie and Violet together.” Poor Margot I am very sorry for her as she certainly does have to see it pretty often. You will be a Godsend to her when you come back after 5 months absence, we shall almost be able to pretend that you are an acquaintance and be able to see you without bringing down on our heads this storm of abuse. Beyond this she was very nice to me. I have only once resented anything that Margot said to me and that only because I was in as nervy a condition as she was, which was when she told me I had on purpose poisoned Violet with veronal at Archerfield just after Archie died! It makes me laugh now, but I never felt more miserable than I did at the moment.
Violet was very anxious to have a months training at the London Hospital and go out and nurse the Bulgars, they are all the most violent Bulgophils. Her father as you can imagine was highly unsympathetic about this. They used to discuss it every morning at breakfast. She says all her friends except Edgar have shown the greatest lack of understanding and immagination† about her desire to do this and she is thinking of writing a play exposing them all. Conversation with her has become rather difficult as she is learning Italian from a certain Signor Rossi who comes twice a week. She knows far more, after 2 lessons than I did after 6 months Berlitz so dont ever again say that her brains arent in every way superlatively good. What ruins her conversation is that as soon as one is alone with her she starts conjugating “Essere” or “Avere” or repeating the days of the week. Perhaps this partly explains the immense progress. I saw hardly anyone in London except Geoffrey for one instant at the House, he is coming here tomorrow, also Violet, Raymond Katharine, Bluey, Hugh and Dudley Ward. Dadley† Ward I have not yet seen, I hear he is in wonderful spirits and looks 20 years younger and that he told you that women were the most unaccountable creatures. Bongie and Mikky were here over Sunday, Mikky was in his most sympathetic and inarticulate mood, he was able to exercise his sympathy on Huck who was very ill, and on me for minding about him. Bongie is learning french, whith which he makes slow progress, partly because his teacher gives him nothing but the most obscure and useless verbs, ones which I have spoken french for 20 years without using, to learn. I cant keep pace with this desire for education which is spreading from Downing St, but I am going to learn to fence as soon as I go to London next week, and on Monday I skated in Manchester and had a lesson. I hunted yesterday for the first time, I had forgotten how glorious it was, my only horse is lame tho’. I tell you this because you have always been very sympathetic and interested (or feigned it successfully) in my stable troubles.
As for the “Eye Witness” and Belloc I wish you would go for them and hound them out of existence. Not that it much matters what lies they tell, for not a soul believes them, but no one thinks it worth while to notice what they say, the result is a riot of untruth which goes on unchecked week after week.
Did you see that dear little Bluey got terribly laughed at when answering some of your questions for his clerical manner?
Whilst your letters get shorter & shorter mine seem to lengthen every time I write, we must try a more even distribution. Write a long account of what you are doing and I will cease to give you such minute accounts of what I have said and done.
I go to London Tuesday, after the Pride of Cheshires wedding {2} (I have managed to get the title Prize of Cheshire bestowed on me by the Prime, as you can well believe this gave rise to a lot of the kind of conversation which he enjoys and which Margot abhors) for 3 weeks.
I must stop.
Goodbye
Venetia
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{1} MONT II B1/55.
{2} Barbara Tomkinson married Captain Walter Thornton Hodgson at St Helen’s, Tarporley, on Tuesday, 12 November. See The Times, 13 Nov., p. 13.
Penrhôs, Holyhead.—Discusses the guests at Penrhôs, and describes an expedition to the Skerries. Suggests organising something delightful when they return to London. Violet has written from Naples.
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Transcript
Penrhôs, Holyhead
May 29th 1912
My dear Mr Montagu
Thank you for your letter, I hope that since you wrote {1} you’ve been having more fun and less lumbago and that the Alpine Chough has proved worth travelling all the way to Geneva to see. We’ve had a very delicious time here, its been quite lovely, and Raymond has been at his very best. Unfortunately he and Katharine leave tomorrow to go to Sawley, and their places are inadequately filled only by Hugh. Poor little Bongie owing to the strike has only had 2 days here and is now again in London, grinding out long telegrams to the P.M. He hopes to get back tomorrow. We made an expedition to the Skerries yesterday, so as to gratify Katharines curiosity as to the Nest of the Roseate Tern, but tho we saw quantities of ordinary terns, there was only one egg which we gound and not the vestige of a Roseate. They are too lovely, I think, and exactly what I imagine the Holy Ghost would look like. Raymond hustled us rather so we werent able to stay as long as we wanted. Next year if you arent again offended by the terms in which your invitation here is couched we will all go again, and you shall replace Raymond, as you would be a more appreciative tern watcher.
Conrad, alas, never came as he is ill again. This afternoon we’ve got an utterly bloody garden party which is blackening my whole outlook. We stay here till Tuesday {2} then London again. Dont arrange to go to your constituency over Sunday {3} and we’ll all do something delightful on Sunday. I daresay Violet will be back by then too. I’ve heard nothing from that party, except a post card yesterday from Naples from Violet but she doesnt mention whether she saw Le nôtre or not. They {4} seem to be having great fun. Do you still envy them. I’ve been so happy here that I dont any longer.
Have you been considering the fate of the Liberal Party and have you arrived at any very black and morbid conclusions.
I saw your friend Mr Peel at a ball the other night and was nearly introduced to him, do you think I should have got on well with him. Bongie thinks I shouldnt.
This is quite the dullest letter I have ever written, but will you take into account that my brain is thoroughly befogged by sun and air.
Yrs
Venetia
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Written in pencil.
{1} This letter does not survive.
{2} 4 June.
{3} 9 June.
{4} The yachting party.
Elton Hall, Peterborough. - Trevelyan could re-direct Tovey's postcard [to Julius Röntgen, see 7/36?] to Denmark, or it would be forwarded from Holland and 'all the less dangerous for the circumbendibus'; if Trevelyan thinks it better not to send it that is all right. The 20th suits him well. His position is 'entirely saved by the Edinburgh job': the postponement of his European concerts (though he still hopes the Dutch ones may take place) is a different matter when due to European war than as 'the result of any other fault or misfortune'; his income will now be 'indisputably the result of his own exertions' and his artistic career will gain through having to wait, as he will 'have hoarded up a stronger reserve of technique' than ever before by the time peace returns. Will not play in England except where invited 'with the most unmistakeable sincerity'. Will be 'implacable' towards those 'whose policy has been animated by jealousy of Miss Weisse'. His friends, including [F.S] Kelly and [Hugh] Godley have all known how much he longed for 'real independence'. 'Utopian' of him 'to leave the Classical Concert Society in the hands of a couple of Eton-boys who haven't outgrown the politics of prefects', but they must revive the Chelsea Concerts if they want to hear him play again.
Believes that the first thing to emerge from 'the shock to civilisation' will be 'a rather sentimental taste for humanity and sentimentality in art' - cites the success of [Beethoven's] "Fidelio" and [Cherubini's] "Les Deux Journées" after the French Revolution - and since he himself is 'built that way', he thinks that their "Bride of Dionysus" will do well. Can do without success, though, and will make it clear that 'irritation with Miss Weisse' was no excuse for 'wet-blanketing' Tovey', and that whatever his feelings at being dependent on her for so long, and whatever allowance he makes for some of the quarrels she got into, he will only have contempt for the way in which his 'concert-wire-pulling-friends' tried to get him out of his position without an idea of how he should earn a living instead. The economic problem of English music is 'grossly mis-handled by that class of art-patron'. Will be trouble in Edinburgh about the establishment of a conservatoire there; he will emphasise that the problem of British musical education is nothing compared with what to do with musicians once they are 'turned loose'.
Will only play where he has been hitherto paid properly: Edinburgh, Englefield Green, Liverpool and Oxford. After the war he will exert himself abroad and hopes the 'dear Busches' [Adolf and Fritz] will be there to help him; otherwise he 'must work for their memory'.
Northlands, Englefield Green, Surrey. - Is sorry Trevelyan had such trouble getting home. Has heard from Hugh Godley, to whom he wrote from Budapest, that Cleg [F. S. Kelly]'s second concert was 'nothing like what Miss Weisse's account made of it': reasonably well attended, Cleg fairly cheerful afterwards and his playing 'enjoyable on the whole'. Would have gone to hear Cleg yesterday had he been more sure of his ground, but it felt too risky given 'Miss Weisse's bitterness towards him'. A shame that the only bad review was in the "Westminster", which has recently been supportive of Tovey; fears that he will be suspected of having 'got at' the press. Will write Cleg a letter expressing normal congratulations. Blames no-one 'least of all, people whose capacity for overcoming a grudge has been crushed out of them by a life of uphill work & self-sacrifice.'
Munich. - Has suffered a bad chill since coming to Germany, and needs to stay in bed for a couple of days to be fit when Donald [Tovey] arrives and to hear the Brahms. Has heard two of [Wagner's] Ring operas and Parsifal, and a performance of [Beethoven's?] Ninth Symphony which made her 'ache to hear Donald conducting it'. Is very touched by Bessie's news [of her pregnancy]; hopes that in time she will have 'a little band of children' growing up in her home, and tells her to look after herself. The baby whose mother she was so worried about in August is now a 'marvellous success'. Is looking forward to the second act of Donald's opera ["The Bride of Dionysus"], and hopes she may hear it several times. Has scarcely seen anything of Donald over the last eighteen months. The Trevelyans must come to Northlands next time he is working on the opera: will be 'a great thing to get it finished and out of the way'. Donald played the first act when Mr [Hugh?] Godley was visiting, and she was 'enormously struck' by it; it is dreadful that she is 'out of touch' with his work, as their tastes in music are 'so absolutely the same'. Is missing Brahms' "Requiem", and is miserable. Hopes that Donald practised.
In the train from Folkestone.—(20 Oct.) Has learnt of his safe arrival at Boulogne. Hopes that Alan and Kisch will prove more competent than expected.
[24 Queen Anne’s Gate, S.W.]—Is depressed at having to spend the winter without him, despite the prospect of arranging Breccles. Reflects on their relationship and plans. After he left she and Viola went shopping, and she saw a sideboard she liked. Has dealt with some correspondence.—(Later.) Diana has visited. Is going to the opera.—(21 Oct.) Discusses her visit to the opera last night. This morning she went to Arlington Street [the Rutland Hospital], lunched with Diana and the Duchess, drove to Bushey in a vain attempt to meet Duff, and dined at Arlington Street for a ‘working reading aloud evening’. She intends to go to the hospital every morning, but will go away if the air-raids are bad.—[Later.] They read again in the evening.—(22 Oct.) Has received two notes from him. She went to Arlington Street and lunched at the Bath [Club]. Goonie is bored by having Jack home. Has ordered some things for the house.—(23 Oct.) She lunched with friends, including Masterton, who reported the rumour of a new coalition including ‘the old bird’ [Asquith], then went to South Kensington to show Diana David Garrick’s bed, which she is thinking of copying for Montagu. She dined and went to the opera with Bluey, and they discussed sapphism. Has had no news about letting the house.—(24 Oct.) After the hospital she went to the Bath, and to the House of Lords. Gives an account of the debate [on the situation in India]. In the evening she went to a play with Viola. Has let the house and bought the sideboard.—(25 Oct.) She dined with Cardie for Rawle’s farewell party, then went to a party at Lady Howard’s, which included Hugo Rumbold, who she is ‘crazy’ about, and Teddie Gerard, who enchanted Winston.—[26 Oct.] Has learnt of Montagu’s arrival at Port Said and has received his letter from Modane. She went to the Bath, where Clemmie was ‘very typical’ about Winston and Teddie. Some friends are dining with her, and they may go to the opera afterwards.—(27 Oct.) Only some of her guests went to the opera last night; she stayed in talking till late with the others. After Arlington Street she went shopping and to lunch with Katherine and Diana. Later she may go to Arlington Street for a ‘working reading evening’. Has received his letter from Rome and eagerly awaits his diary. The house has not, after all, been let.—(28 Oct.) She went to Bushey with Diana and Michael Herbert to see Duff, and dined with Diana and Edward, who has just come home on ‘Mells fire leave’ [Mells Park had been destroyed by fire on the 11th].—(29 Oct.) After the hospital and the Bath they lunched with Edward, after which Venetia took him to Lucile’s, where they found Viola choosing dresses for her new part. She got home to find Phyllis there, having turned out by her father for throwing a hair-brush at him. Rib writes to her daily, but they are trying to persuade her that he must marry her or stop seeing her. There was an abortive air-raid warning.—(30 Oct.) Edward has fallen in love with Phyllis. She lunched with friends, and Hugo Rumbold, who is probably another of Phyllis’s lovers, came to tea. Has received a telegram from Cairo and has heard that Montagu’s party has already broken up into groups. Some friends are dining with her tonight. Is appalled by the household expenses.—(31 Oct.) Her dinner went well, but she and Diana got into an argument with Edward. She had lunch with friends at home. Phyllis has told Ribblesdale that she will have to stop seeing him if he does not mean to marry her, but it is unlikely that her good intentions will last. Diana said to Phyllis that her mind had been corrupted by Scatters, and later Ribblesdale asked Phyllis whether she had ever slept with him, ‘which she had the sense to deny’. Lutyens brought her Blow’s plans [of Breccles], but as they are not of the house as it is now she will have to go down there to correct them. Is going to the opera.
Train to Breccles.—(1 Nov.) Was kept awake by an air-raid. Is on the way to meet Horner.
[24 Queen Anne’s Gate, S.W.]—(2 Nov.) She did a lot of business with Horner at Breccles and planted some bulbs. Lutyens will probably come next time.—(3 Nov.) Has had no letter from him for a week, but has replied to his telegram. She played bridge this evening, and yesterday dined with friends and went to a play. Phyllis has gone to Arkers; her relationship with Lord Ribblesdale is still unsettled. Today she lunched with Maud and they went to the opera. Eric says Lloyd George is worried about the effect of the air-raids on public opinion.—(4 Nov.) She spent the day at Taplow. Ettie was on good form.—(5 Nov.) She went to Charing Cross [Hospital] again this morning and found it squalid, but she will only be going there two mornings a week. She had tea with friends and dined and went to a play with Duff, who starts his career at Chelsea Barracks on Monday. Phyllis is dining with Edward, Rib, and Arkers, and as the Viceroy is in London she will probably not come back tonight. Edward is still in love with her, but Venetia doesn’t know whether he has seduced her yet.—(6 Nov.) She lunched with Diana, Duffy, and Edward. Edward and Diana are reconciled. She is giving a dinner tonight. Hugo Wemyss has gone to Paris as Flavia Forbes has been bitten by a mad dog. He is corresponding acrimoniously with Lord Derby about Lady Angela [Forbes], who has been asked to leave France on account of alleged drunkenness.—(8 Nov.) Margot and the ‘old Boy’ [Asquith] were at Hazel’s party last night and asked after Montagu, but Vizee gave her (Venetia) a sour look; she and Bongie are the only ones who have said nothing about Montagu having gone [to India]. Has received his letter from Port Said [B1/144a]. She lunched with Winston and Clemmie, went to see Gladys, then played bridge at Lady Essex’s. Tonight she and Phyllis are dining with the McKennas and then going to a party at the Baroness’s.—(9 Nov.) Has seen his mother and shown her his typed notes [his ‘Diary’]. Phyllis leaves tomorrow.
Northlands, Englefield Green, Surrey. - Thanks Bessie for the letter and photographs, which have just reached him after going astray in Aachen. Miss Weisse has tried twice to get a 'recantation' from G.S. [Guilhermina Suggia] and given up; thought she 'quite understood' until she showed Tovey Suggia's letter, in which Suggia quoted 'some highly emotional remarks' of Tovey's without mentioning that they came from a letter to Casals when Tovey left Spain, which Suggia could not have known of until after her reconciliation with Casals. Thinks this changed Miss Weisse's view of the business greatly, and amused her. Suggia does not lie 'if she can possibly help it... [s]he merely selects her truths'. [Murray Coutts ?] Trotter's insistence that Tovey should not admit to acting at any point 'with other than Ideal Wisdom' is justified. Regretted last autumn the 'drastic note' to Casals which Trotter and [Hugh] Godley compelled him to write, but now sees it was necessary; even hopes Casals may someday see so too. Thinks Miss Weisse is right that Suggia is 'in many ways fully as much sinned against as sinning'; Casals should not 'have taken her back while vilifying her to all Paris'. Hopes she will 'make a great career as a musician' and that Casals will soon recover from his attempt 'to educate a person who is twenty times cleverer than himself'. Is also sorry for 'that poor little Common House-fly' Horzowski, who is 'rather a genius as a player'. Sends love to Mrs Röntgen, and says Bessie must bring her to Northlands: they have the 9th Symphony for two pianos [Beethoven arr. Liszt?]. A postscript on the back of the envelope says that the cello solo sonata is out and [Willi?] Strecker 'is going to use it as a life-buoy'.
3 Hobart Place, London S.W.1. - Is sorry to have to write instead of speaking; first of all says she was talking [in 8/110] of Robert Trevelyan's poem ["The Bride of Dionysus"] as a libretto: has often 'enjoyed many beautiful scenes and jewelled lines in it' as Bessie knows. Offers examples which she say prove the Trevelyans have been 'a menace and a danger' [to Donald Tovey], such as Robert Trevelyan's announcement, in a train carriage of guests returning from Ridgehurst, that Donald could not get on with his work as he had 'such a wretched home', which caused a fellow guest [Percy Such] to warn straight to Northlands and 'warn' Sophie Weisse; says she ignored the warning, saying 'they know nothing about the past, and they are stupid', and forgetting 'how dangerous stupidity is'. Trusted them to look after Donald while she 'toiled for him at home', but questions whether he was 'safe' with them: says that no one doubts it was their 'meddling and that of another so called friend [Hugh Godley]' which led to the quarrel with Casals; asks whether [Bessie's brother-in-law Jules Engelbert] Röntgen is really Donald's friend. Accuses them of 'constant undermining' of her relationship with Donald, and asks whether he has profited by treating her as he has; they should not have let him criticise her to them, nor 'dare' criticise her to him. As proof of this, claims that a friend of hers when putting Donald's library and papers in order for her last year, brought her 'two scraps of letters', she thinks unsigned but from Bessie, criticising Miss Weisse and expressing sympathy for Donald on his 'position at Northlands'; claims that even now Bessie knows nothing of Donald; says that Mrs [Blanche Warre] Cornish thought the letters were 'low'. The Trevelyans both 'stupid and selfish'; claims that a friend who lives nearby recently said 'they always sow disunion in families and between friends'. There is much more to said when they speak face to face, including some excuses for the Trevelyans 'though they do not understand them'. Expects and wishes the Trevelyans to show this letter to anyone they like, and has kept a copy; the sooner she sees them the better.
Has 'real hopes' for the production of Donald's opera; is lunching at Covent Garden on Thursday to discuss detains with [Sir Thomas] Beecham. Donald is in some ways much healthier; Bessie must feed him 'well and suitably' when he visits, as she expects he will soon.