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W[est] H[ackhurst]. - Very glad she liked the 'Broadcast on T. E. [Lawrence]', which has been 'successful, as my utterances go' and he had 'fan mail' waiting on his return from Norfolk. Had a 'pleasant time' there, partly with the Kennets and partly with the Sprotts; the first part being '"tough" - bathin', sailin' and so on', which he 'quite enjoyed, and the second 'more archaeological'. Saw Binham Abbey; 'the strange modern rival goings on at Walsingham'; Houghton [Hall], built by Sir Robert Walpole, over which the 'present nobb [?] owner [George, 5th Marquess of Cholmondeley]' showed them for five shillings each; and Felbrigg Hall, owned by a 'fat young acquaintance' of Forster, Robert Windham Ketton-Cremer so therefore seen for nothing. Got 'so enthusiastic' over sightseeing, that in London he took his Baedeker and 'went round the Royal Tombs in Westminster Abbey'.

Is now at home, 'seeing that the outside of the house gets painted'; asks her to let him know when she returns. Will be 'pleased to make young George's [son of Sir Charles Trevelyan?] acquaintance'; he had been visiting the Kennets and Lady Kennet' was very much on to him as she is to all young and personable men. I don't think she does them much good!'

Expects she is still in the north, but will send this to The Shiffolds since 'it contains nothing of importance except my love'. Is here until Friday, when he is going away for a weekend with the Woolfs; not a good time to go, as he is 'so irritated and bored by Virginia's Three Guineas that I don't know what to do. Such an endless ill-tempered prate, and so badly-written in the true sense of writing. She wants a pill [?] she do'. However, is sure he will be 'charmed and captivated' when he sees her.

W[est] H[ackhurst]. - Thanks Bessie for her letter about The Celestial Omnibus [an adaptation of his short story broadcast on BBC radio, see TRER/ADD/45], with which he 'disagree[s] pretty completely!'. Acknowledges that 'one can pick holes in the production, as in everything', but thought that it was generally 'intelligent and in good taste, and the boy, with his unpriggishness and unsophistication couldn't have been better'. Asks if he is 'being nasty now'. Encloses Florence [a letter by Florence Barger]; his mother and aunt [Rosalie] agree with her, as does Kathleen Kennet, 'who started listening with the utmost hostility' and 'Mr Herbert E. Gibbs, otherwise unknown'. He will, with his 'noted fairmindedness' forward Bessie's letter to Florence and 'extend this salutary disquiet'.

Hopes that later in the month, after the 20th, she might be able to visit them 'unsupervised by Molly [Trevelyan?]' for coffee and tea. Postscript conveying his mother's love.

West Hackhurst. - Hopes his wire reached her in good time; had been staying with the Kennets and only just got her letter. Monday the 28th would 'suit splendidly'; asks her to drop him a line to confirm nearer the time. Will of course meet her bus and take her back to it; she will have 'coffee on arrival, tea on departure, and alcohol between times - if acceptable, that is to say'.

He does 'dislike voices against music when there is no reason for it, but there was a reason here [further discussion of the BBC broadcast of his short story The Celestial Omnibus, see also TRER/ADD/45-46], and for the music being Wagner'. Believes the first chapter of A Passage to India is to be broadcast on the 28th, 'some unearthly hour of the night as usual'.

His mother looks forward to seeing Bessie.

West Hackhurst, Abinger Hammer, Dorking. - Has lost her address 'Like a poop (why a poop?)' so this letter must go via the Shiffolds. Hopes that she feels better, and that 'the hostel isn't too quaint'; asks her to tell him when she returns so that he can visit. Things are all right here, but 'the frost has been a melancholy impediment to the garden, and has destroyed nearly all the fruit'.

Has seen Desmond lately, 'a great joy and he seemed in good form, though like all of us he looks older'. They had an 'interesting meeting of the Memoir Club - Bunny Garnett read about that curious woman Dorothy Evans who wrote a book called Rhapsody', and they dined at a restaurant beforehand with Maynard and Lydia [Keynes]; 'Twelve of us in all - the flower, or perhaps the seed-pods, of Old Bloomsbury'. Desmond stayed at his flat afterwards.

The day before, there was a 'party at the Kennets', at which Denis Matthews and another man '"did" the Emperor Concerto on two pianos'; thinks Matthews is 'magnificent'. At the party 'Various admirals were present, and rather suspiciously voluble about the Second Front: knew nothing about it all, they trumpeted, no one knows anything but Eisenhower'. Has himself 'a sort of hope that it will never take place'.

Was invited yesterday by Mrs [Olive?] Heseltine to meet Francesca Wilson: 'What an untaking woman! I have never slightly disliked anyone more, if you follow my English'. Now he is supposed to 'read her book and follow her English'; asks whether Bessie knows 'what "I met up" means?'. His letter 'seems getting ill-natured and consequently interesting', but he hears the bell.

King's Coll., Cambridge. - Must write by return of post, and 'not delay until I compose that illusory 'real' letter which I am always intending to send'. Feels 'overtired and fidgeted', but 'alright in health', and has 'found much more comfort than I expected here, as well as the expected friendliness'. The 'young Wilkinsons' with whom he is lodging 'seem quite perfect'; thinks 'all that side of life will go on without jolts'.

His 'big room' at College is also starting to look right at last; now sits in it with 'my personal past and ancestral past stacked around me in comparative order, and quite a large coal fire inside my father's chimney-piece, reinforced by an electric fire'. Is 'exhausted mentally and intellectually, but the shock of being uprooted is bound to come out somehow', and he is glad that he can 'eat, sleep, and carry on socially'.

Called at Trinity recently, 'seeing the windows lit up [in the Master's Lodge] and thinking a reception in progress'. Found 'only the Master [G. M. Trevelyan] and his wife, and Robin Mayor and his wife', so they had 'a very nice old codgers' tea party'; Hilton Young and his wife appeared at the end, though Kathleen Kennet 'would scarcely relish being classed as a codger - or codgeress'.

Florence [Barger] has returned; her visit to America was 'a great success', and she has brought back her sister [Margaret?] with her. Sends love to Bob - his proof-correction must be interesting. Expects they will spend Christmas at the Shiffolds; hopes 'domestic arrangements keep all right'. Agnes' foot 'got very bad in the final pandemonium' and she went off to her niece's in Barnet in a car. Has been to see her; she 'seems happily placed', and her room is very nice.