Kenilworth Villa, Victoria Road, Dorchester. - Regrets that an Easter visit will not be possible: he will be either with the Eckhards, or his sisters at Lyme. Is 'oppressed' by the 'horror of the world'. Hopes Forster will join him at Lyme. Expects Bob will return soon.
13A Hanover Terrace, Ladbroke Grove W.11. - His sister Janet's courage in the face of illness, and the role of religion. May finds it very difficult but he thinks she will pull through. Is keeping himself occupied with 'that political stuff' [his book "The International Anarchy"?] Hopes the Labour rank and file will not prevent the government achieving what it might in foreign policy: fears strikes and other trouble. MacDonald has a difficult task.
13A Hanover Terrace, Ladbroke Grove W.11. - Janet was very glad to get Bessie's letter; she was moved back home yesterday; arrangements for her care. May has been over-tired but should now manage. Janet may live months. Will ask Glaisher to send a copy of his father's letters.
13A Hanover Terrace, Ladbroke Grove W.11. - [His sister] Janet's death, and the 'courage and love' she kept up till the end. The funeral is tomorrow. He and his two sisters are going away as soon as possible, probably to Lyme Regis. Asks if Bob has already gone to Greece.
K[ing's] C[ollege] C[ambridge]. - Thought Jelly [d'Arányi] played beautifully, though her tone is very small in a large hall and she looks 'oddly childish and even awkward'. May is unhappy and unwell, and misses Janet very much; his sisters are looking for lodgings. Enjoyed his time with the Trevelyans: glad Julian is 'happy and busy and friendly'. His lecture at St Mary's Hospital only had an audience of five.
As from Fernworthy, Northwood, Midd[lese]x; on headed notepaper for 197 Woodstock Road, Oxford. - A 'great surprise & pleasure' to get Trevelyan's 'booklet of poems' ["From the Shiffolds"; particularly moved by the first poem [a tribute to Goldsworthy Lowes Dickinson] and cannot read it 'without tears'. Sends best wishes for the New Year.
British Museum, London, W.C.1. - Has just heard that Oswald Sickert has lost his job with the Encyclopaedia Britannica and will be in England in about a fortnight looking for work. Corrects an impression given by his last letter: only met Adrian [Stephen: see 17/25] once and liked him, does not know him well. Asks if Bob could translate Aeschylus's "Prometheus" for the Art Theatre" as requested by [Vera ] Donnet; thinks his way of doing the chorus would 'work very well' for recitation. Was greatly bored by the first performance by the Art Theatre [George Farquhar's "The Beaux' Stratagem"]: everybody 'connected with it is completely Philistine', and he does not think that any good will come of it, though it will be no worse than 'the Stage Society, Pioneers, Plough, Bel Espoir, Paddington Players, Malleson's Mimes or anything of the rest'.
Has arranged to publish his next book ["More Translations from the Chinese"] with Allen and Unwin; Constable's [who published his first book] is 'a nuisance to get to'. [Eugene] Morice has died of illness at Salonika and his bookshop [in Museum Street] is for sale; would be 'great fun' to run it, but he is afraid there is not 'enough sustenance in it for Oswald'. Has translated about thirty more poems of Po Chu-I for the new book, but may 'weed them out a bit', as well as a new version of Ou-yang Hsiu's "Autumn Dirge'. [Gordon] Luce's poems have been 'an appalling blow'; liked some of them at first, but now 'hate[s] them all'. Asks if anyone has seen [Charles] Vildrac and whether he is translating any more of Po Chu-I into French. Does not think he has seen Roger Fry since Bob went away. The Dickinsons [Goldsworthy Lowes Dickinson and his two sisters] are soon to move into the upper storey at 13 Hanover Terrace.
13A Hanover Terrace, Ladbroke Grove W11. - Thanks Trevelyan for his letter of sympathy on the death of Janet [his sister]; he is glad that she has 'escaped', and suffered less than he feared. Thoughts on death, and life. Hopes Trevelyan will enjoy Greece.
13A Hanover Terrace W.1 - The chapter he gave Trevelyan is the possible introduction to a book on the diplomacy leading to the war ["The International Anarchy, 1904-1918"]: the work keeps him going, though he does not know whether it is much good. Will be glad to see Trevelyan. Janet [his sister]'s pain is controlled by morphia; they have had to tell her there is no hope.
Mountside, Guildford. - Very much enjoyed his 'little stay' with the Trevelyans'; thanks Trevelyan's wife for 'all the trouble she took' to make him comfortable. Very glad to spend some time with Goldie [Lowes Dickinson]; is sure he must miss his sister Janet very much. Meant to ask Trevelyan about some books on Shelley, in whom he is currently very interested, but with his 'usual presence of mind, forgot!'.