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Macmillan & Co., Ltd. - Disagrees with Sir Rennell Rodd about the Hotel Flora in Rome; some Germans stay there, but they are 'not specially conspicuous'; finds it a good hotel; thanks Sir James for the poems, agrees with her they are too intimate to be published.

11, St Leonard's Terrace, Chelsea, S.W.3. - Does not know whether he will stay [in Cambridge] for Saturday night; probably yes, unless he feels 'too much out of sympathy with "Prometheus"' [the production of his translation of Aeschylus' play]. Julian should therefore do what he likes about dining at Uncle George's. He himself does not want to dine there to meet Sir R[ennell] Rodd, whom he does 'not much like'; he served as British ambassador at Rome, and Bob has heard him talk about 'things in Italy' in a way he did not like; he is also a 'poor minor poet'. However he is 'of course quite nice to meet etc, and a great friend of Janet's'. In any case, he and Julian will lunch together. Thinks he will see the play on Friday evening, as he may want to meet people on Saturday evening. Julian may find it hard to 'cry off' the dinner at George's. Supposes the "Prometheus" will be 'right enough', but is 'terrified' by something in a Cambridge newspaper, 'evidently inspired by Terence [Gray]', suggesting it would have 'a sort of Prometheus-Christ, a double blasphemy'. Notes in a postscript that when he gets to Cambridge he will go straight to Goldie [Lowes Dickinson]'s, where he is staying, then on to the F[estival] Theatre.

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.

Addressed to Julian at 11 Malcolm Street, Cambridge. - Will probably come by the early train on Friday which reaches Cambridge at 9.58; hopes Julian can lunch with him at the theatre [Terence Gray's Festival Theatre, where Bob's translation of Aeschylus "Prometheus" is to be produced]; supposes he will be there all morning. Hears from Aunt Annie [Philips] that Julian is dining that night at Uncle G[eorge]'s so supposes he will have to go by himself to the play. Seems Julian will meet Sir Rennel[l] Rodd there, whom Bob does not much like, though tells him not to say that to G[eorge] and J[anet].

Heard from Aunt Annie [Philips] that she had seen Julian and liked his rooms [at Trinity College]. Bessie will be happy to help Julian to get a low table for tea or coffee; a shame they cannot get 'another Burma table'. Not sure whether she will come to see the production of [Bob's translation of Aeschylus'] "Prometheus"; not keen to come all the way to see 'another disappointing performance in that theatre [Terence Gray's Cambridge Festival Theatre] & in that atmosphere'. However, she may feel differently after Bob has seen it [see 15/230]. Bob came home on Sunday after all, while 'Cousin Marie [Hubrecht]' was staying, and the Allens [Clifford and Joan] came to supper. Noel Vaughan Williams, an 'old friend' of Marie, came to lunch. Hears that Daan [possibly Daniel Hubrecht, a relative in Cambridge?] fell on the ice a couple of days ago and 'cut his hand very badly'; he may still be in hospital; Julian could perhaps visit him.

Hears Julian is to meet Sir R[endell] Rodd, once English ambassador in Rome, 'with whom Aunt Janet worked on her unholy Anglo-Italian League'; he is 'a regular hedger abt Mussolini'. Advises Julian to pay his hundred pound legacy into his deposit account at Drummonds, and tells him how to do this. Says in a postscript that Aunt Annie's 'enthusiasm made her bubble one into trios when there were only singing duets'; stresses that she herself did not sing 'Charlie is my darling', though if Julian had heard 'dear old Timson' sing with his cracking voice Julian might have thought that even she 'might be heard at that concert!'.

25, Cavendish Square, W.1. - Thanks her for the little history of Monsieur Blanc; gives advice on hotels in Rome and looks forward to seeing her there.

39, Bryanston Square, W.1. - Has not received the book she sent, but it is perhaps lying on a table at the House of Lords; bought a copy and has been enjoying it; is surprised at what she says about the University at Athens but is not surprised that Sir James should be overlooked by politicians.

Pen Rose, Berkhamsted. - Thanks Bob for telling Hodder and Stoughton's to send her the book [his translation of Aeschylus's "Oresteia"], which arrived on Friday; sends a postal order for five shillings in payment. Will send this copy to Sir Rennell Rodd, and when she receives the copy from Hatchard's it will go to her father; they both know the "Agamemnon" 'by heart', which she fears she does not. The translation is 'really grand'.

39 Bryanston Square, W.1. - In reply to her letter, has yet to make enquiries at the House of Lords as to the acquisition of books, suspects that he is one of the few users of the library, is much interested to hear that Sir James was instrumental in the foundation of the Loeb Classical Library.

Rome. - Apologises for not having written for a while; she can only manage a letter a day and knew Sir George was keeping them informed of her slow recovery. She is now free of fever and beginning to feel better; she 'never felt so bad' in her life and found it hard to maintain a 'show of cheerfulness'. Annie's offers of help have been very touching. Thinks they will stay in Rome until she is totally recovered, then return home; the alternative is to stop at the Riviera for a while, but in either case Sir George will stay and bring her home. He will probably do some work soon, and is cheerful now he is no longer anxious about her. They will stay another three or four weeks. Could not enjoy C[harles] and M[ary]'s visit, but they had a good time sight-seeing. Hopes Julian's nurse is still satisfactory; thinks it is good she 'gets him out early & makes him walk'. Glad that Mr [Gordon] Bottomley is a little better this winter; hopes their new home in the north suits him. Not many English in Rome, but many Americans; Sir George likes the American Ambassador, [Thomas Nelson] Page, and sometimes 'goes about with him'; they have gone this morning in Page's car to the Ponte Nomentano and the Campagna. He also finds Sir Rennell Rodd [the British Ambassador] 'pleasant', but has met no English friends here. Sends love to Julian, and asks them to tell him she likes watching the Italian children playing on a terrace across the road; they 'talk & shout a great deal, & everything they say ends in "a a a ah"'.