Hindhead. - Mrs Sickert and Oswald think she might be able to do the German translation of Trevelyan's play ["The Bride of Dionysus"] which [Donald] Tovey has set to music; she is doubtful, since the work would need to be done by someone who was an experienced writer as well as musician. Would be able to judge better if she could read the play. Mrs Sickert suggests they should meet at Pembroke Lodge; she could make next Tuesday, Thursday or Friday.
12 Pembroke Gardens, Kensington, W. - Asks Trevelyan to let her know what he and Tovey thought of Act III [her German translation of their "Bride of Dionysus"]; supposes Tovey will be soon starting his term at Edinburgh. Wonders what he was working at when staying with Trevelyan, and whether Miss Weisse has returned or if they have received news of her. Has received some news about her own mother and niece and so is less anxious about them for the present. Is staying with Mrs Sickert, who is not very well; it is a 'comfort' to be with friends whose hearts, like hers, 'are so much in both countries'. Robert is also ill; hopes they will both recover soon. Leonhard is a special constable and 'takes his truncheon for a walk' for four hours each morning.
12 Pembroke Gardens, Kensington, W. - Trevelyan must not pay her the last 20 pounds until the work [her German translation of "The Bride of Dionysus"] is quite finished. Would be glad to work on it together again next year. Hopes Trevelyan found improvement at Northlands [Sophie Weisse's school]; in great troubles, people should 'sink all their little home-made ones'. Expects [Donald] Tovey will be glad to start at Edinburgh. Wonders whether the Northlands pupils will return: schools not seeing girls since people are poorer because of the war. Mrs Sickert and Robert still ill in bed; both 'very plucky and... dears to look after'. Wonders whether 'this fearful struggle of the Armies can last much longer'; the Germans in particular must be reaching the limits of endurance.
Roundhurst,. - Has opened and looked at Trevelyan's Harunobu print and congratulates him on the purchase. Fry will make Berenson envious when they meet, as Mrs [Mary] Costelloe came over to Roundhurst the other day: it was a struggle for her to conceal her feelings. Went to Friday's Hill [home of the Pearsall Smiths] yesterday. No fresh news from Roehampton [of Helen Fry]: sometimes it seems impossible to go on. Will leave on Thursday with much regret as the house and Goldie [Dickinson] have made life bearable; thinks he will go to 12 Pembroke Square, Mrs Sickert's house. He and Goldie slept out in Trevelyan's field two nights ago.
12 Pembroke Gardens, Kensington, W. - Very kind of Trevelyan to pay the third instalment of 20 pounds; feels she should not have had it before the work [her German translation of "The Bride of Dionysus"] was quite finished. Would be happy to complete the revision some time in the summer. Went to one of [Donald] Tovey's afternoon recitals of Beethoven but did not see Trevelyan; Beethoven 'one of those comforts one greatly needs just now'. Mrs Sickert has not left the house since her illness and is still weak, but is now coming downstairs for a few hours a day; fears Robert will never be well again, though he too has improved.
12 Pembroke Gardens, Kensington, W. - Sends a tidier version [of her German translation of "The Bride of Dionysus"]; knows her lettering is not always clear to English readers so feels someone who knows German should type it up. Mrs Haster has German typists, but sure Trevelyan will know some. Thanks for the Bayard Taylor, which she returns with [Trevelyan's] "Polyphemus"; Robert [Sickert] has a copy of the latter which she can borrow if 'inspired to make another attempt' [at a translation?]. Thanks also for Mrs Trevelyan's letter and the 'piece of music with mending material'. Mrs Sickert keeps well, though she is sometimes tempted to do too much.
Gable House, Lawrie Park Avenue, Sydenham, S.E. - Has been working on Act II Scene I [of Trevelyan's libretto "The Bride of Dionysus"]; [Donald] Tovey has given her the music for this section, which she feels she needs to do the translation; is not working in a 'finished and final way' as Tovey says he has made many alterations in that scene, but she will have something to discuss when they next meet. Mrs Sickert has written to say they will see each other in May. Was unable to work for a couple of weeks due to the illness of the friend [Frances Enthoven] with whom she is staying. The poem appeals to her more and more, and she hopes she will do it justice.
12 Pembroke Gardens, Kensington, W. - The Index [to the "Encyclopaedia Britannica" ?] is not yet finished; has been reading proofs for the last fortnight; B-G and M-Z are still unread and proof-reading is more like editing. Does not think that the work will last longer, and hopes to get away towards the end of February, but cannot hope to get further than Venice. 'The Sicilian dream was a pleasant one': would have been 'charming' to see Trevelyan there. Is glad Trevelyan is reading [Richardson's] "Clarissa"; hopes he will go on to "Sir Charles Grandison". Has been reading the "Aeneid". Sends thanks from his mother and asks to be remembered to Mrs Trevelyan.
13, Hanover Terrace, W. - Has ordered a couple of copies of the poem, which sounds delightful from Goldie [Dickinson]'s account. The latest news of Stanley [Makower] 'astonishing and splendid': he is gaining weight and his temperature back to normal; his brother-in-law, visiting from Switzerland, agreed that the illness was the 'fatal one' [tuberculosis?] diagnosed by the English doctors, but thought more should be done, so he is being treated from Zurich. Going to Dieppe tomorrow with his mother, Leonhard and Robert to Dieppe. Lengthy postscript: has read and much enjoyed [Forster's] "Howard's End", but was a little disappointed with [Bennett's] "Clayhanger" and "Old Wives' Tale"; had previously much enjoyed Bennett's short story ["The Death of Simon Fuge"]. Is reading a 'charming' book given to him by Michel Bréal, his "Pour Mieux Connaître Homère".
12 Pembroke Gardens, Kensington, W. - Letter of condolence on the death of the Trevelyan's new-born daughter, Susan Caroline; sends love to Elizabeth Trevelyan and says she hopes she will take care of herself, for Trevelyan and Paul. Finds that young mothers often do not look after their eyes properly: Agnes Makower hurt hers when Ursula was born. Oswald [her son] and Bessie have taken a furnished house in Wellington, New Zealand and will not be back before June; now Oswald has an office Bessie was finding hotel life lonely; hopes they have solved 'the servant difficulty'.
12 Pembroke Gardens, Kensington, W. - The Sickerts have been very distressed by Stanley [Makower]'s illness; at first there was thought to be no hope but his temperature has gone down and the doctors thought they may have made an error in diagnosis. Robert has paid several brief visits and says that Stanley 'talks quite naturally' and is able to read. His wife despairs, but Eleanor thinks she still believes the first diagnosis. More on Stanley's illness; recommends Trevelyan write to hiss wife if he wants to visit. Oswald and Bessie are well; Oswald soon to have a holiday.
12 Pembroke Gardens, Kensington, W. - Wishes she could give a good account of Stanley [Makower]; on a recent visit he seemed much weaker, and she fears the doctors are right and he will not recover. He is still very glad to see friends, and the Sickerts visit in turn. Mrs Makower despairs, as she has from the start, but she stays 'wonderfully calm and cheerful' when with him. Auguste Bréal went to see him on Sunday. Reports in a postscript that Robert has just come back from Chiswick and thinks Stanley a little better.
12 Pembroke Gardens, Kensington, W. - Thinks Stanley's father [Moritz Makower] will give his widow Agnes something to live on, but they are 'embittered against each other'; he wants her to return to Switzerland very soon and she needs time to recover. Feels Agnes must bear it for the children: there are four under six years old, with nothing to live on but what Makower gives them. Eleanor would like to see Trevelyan very much. Stanley did not realize he was dying, and his death was peaceful. Hopes that one of Agnes' brother will come, and may put things right. She wants to see Stanley's last book through the press, which would keep her in England till next year; Makower wants her to leave this month. Oswald and Robert went to the funeral; there was no trouble about the religious question; he had a Catholic ceremony and burial and the children will be brought up in their parents' faith. She, her 'four sons and two daughters in law' spent a month in Dieppe over the summer.
12 Pembroke Gardens, Kensington, W. - Her friend in Berlin, Anna Henschke, does not feel she can 'undertake the musical part of the opera' [Trevelyan and Donald Tovey's "The Bride of Dionysus"] so she would like to suggest Marie Busch: Oswald agrees she is very promising. Will write to her if Trevelyan is happy with the idea. Agrees that the translator must be musical and able to follow the score; it would be good to be able to consult Tovey as well, and she believes that Marie Busch knows him. Hopes Anna will return the copy from Longmans which she sent to Berlin.