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22 The Spain, Petersfield, Hants. - Thanks for the letter and card, and for Mr Mulready's address. They are sick of builders, and have left their house 'with rain pouring through the roof'. Is to go to Holland at the beginning of February and would be glad of any introductions or addresses. Hopes Marie will come with him. His poem has appeared at last in "Hommage des écrivains étrangers à Paul Valéry" and has written to ask about copies; he is the only English contributor and hardly knows the others, except Rilke and Curtius. Postscript in French: would like to have Bessie's sister [Abrahamina?]'s address; asks whether Bessie has a copy of "War and Peace" in French which she could lend to [his daughter] Riette.

Laity Water, Torrington. - Asks whether Bob could send him an extra copy of the booklet of poems he sent at Christmas ["From the Shiffolds"], as he would like to lend it to friends but his own copy is 'too precious to part with'. Has taken a title for his new book, which should appear in the autumn, from one of Bob's poems, "The Leaves Return", and would like to quote some lines as an epigraph. Wonders whether Bob has read Leismann [sic: Leishman]'s translation of some of Rilke's poems; Rilke 'must have been a most exceptional man, and seems to be writing in [a] new medium' or, as a friend says, is 'writing from the region after death'. Finds his poetry 'wonderfully interesting and stimulating'. He has been 'more crocked up' than he expected by his illness; is not currently working and therefore 'rather at a loss'; supposes it is necessary to 'accept periods of inactivity' as one gets older as well as other things; often thinks of Hardy's "A Wasted Illness". Asks whether Bob has read [L. H.] Myers' book "The Near and the Far"; it is 'far to[o] long and very shapeless', but he thinks it 'very good indeed in parts', and the kind which might appeal to Bob. It deals with the 'very burning question of the authoritarian attitude and opposing attitude of freedom', and though it was written 'before all the present and impending problems were fairly upon us', he thinks it 'discovered the essential conflict within the individual'. Myers is a 'most interesting writer'; does not think the 'pseudo-Indian atmosphere' of the story's setting need hinder appreciation.

2 Hampstead Hill Gardens, Rosslyn Hill, N.W.3. - Very good of Trevy to send "From the Shiffolds" as Christmas greetings: he and his wife send best wishes in return. Asks how the Trevelyans are; has not seen any works by Julian recently, though he 'much frequent[s] Picture Galleries'. Nick [their son], his wife, and small daughter are staying here while the house they have bought in Chelsea is repaired; Nick is staying in the Army, and is now an acting Major. He himself is 'always reading poetry in scraps, in the bus, in bed...'; he has recently regained some of his 'old passion for Fitzgerald', and always has Rilke and Horace by him, whom Trevy will call an 'odd couple'; has recently 'turned to Pope - stranger still' but now will 'turn to' Trevy.