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King's Coll. Cambridge [headed card]. - Florence [Barger] has asked him to give Bessie and Bob 'the tragic news that Margaret [her sister] died yesterday morning'. Florence herself returned from America a few hours later. 'Everything has been seen to for her by that splendid friend of Harold's and herself William Baxter, and she is bearing the shock as well as can be expected'.

Florence asks Bessie not to write at the moment, as 'Letters upset her', and she knows what the Trevelyans both feel. She sends her love, and looks forward to visiting them in the future. Margaret did not suffer.

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.

West Hackhurst, Abinger Hammer, Dorking [headed notepaper]. - 'So pleased' to hear from Bessie; was about to write, partly to ask whether she might like to take on 'one of our pussies' when he leaves West Hackhurst - Bob thought she might. If so, he 'would describe their characteristics and their defects - for cats, unlike human beings, are imperfect. They are of the Tabby habit'.

Looks forward to seeing her, 'perhaps next month'; will bring the 'Tovey volume' [edition of Beethoven's Mass, see TRER/ADD/71], which was 'very helpful'. Is going to Cambridge again this week, to 'make some final arrangements' about his room; his move will probably be 'in two bits, the bigger bit not till October. Much has been done here, much still remains to do'. Has recently sent 'a lorry-load of jumble... off with the Rector's wife built up in the middle of it. She is a darling'.

Glad to hear of the Trevelyans' 'revised arrangements', and hopes they will work well. If Mrs Jane [?] 'is a chatterpie, Bob has only to trot, tell him, into another room. It's a chatterpie in the same room that is so trying'. Has had an 'Excited and delighted' postcard from Florence, who much enjoyed her flight across the Atlantic, and has been 'going round New York with her sister [Margaret?] in a bus'.

Is going to Glyndebourne, 'quite unexpectedly', tomorrow with some Indian friends; he 'rather hate[s] the snobby place, however, dress clothes are out of the question now, and Britten's new opera [The Rape of Lucretia] said to be very lovely'.

West Hackhurst, Abinger Hammer, Dorking. - Tells Bessie to 'keep the Boswell for Beethovenian cycles'; is glad that Bob is reading aloud from it. Pleased they had 'such a nice visit from [their grandson] Philip. I expect and hope that he cried on the chord of C because a chord is too much of a good thing at once, whereas a scale is just a lot of nothings-at-all in a row, and he could deal with them severally'.

Asks if she has heard how Hsiao Chen is; he wrote to Forster after Dr Bluth took him for an x-ray, and 'was hoping to avoid an operation'. Afraid Margaret's operation 'though not making her worse, did not do her any good'; does not know what arrangements Florence [Barger, her sister] is making for her. Understands that 'Evert and his Molly [Mollie Sinton, who married Evert Barger in Jan 1944]' are being very helpful.

His mother is 'fairly well and sends love'. Forster fears they have 'now left it too late and date in the year' for Bessie to visit; looks forward to coming to see her and Bob at the Shiffolds. Now has a copy of Trilling's monograph', and could lend it to her if she likes. It is 'an intelligent but almost overwhelmingly serious piece of work. It praises me for my seriousness; then censures me for my lack of seriousness... but when summing up it suggest that my very absence of seriousness may imply a seriousness far more serious than superficial seriousness'. Was 'rather difficult to know how to thank the author', but he is 'pleased with the book, and tried to say so'. His mother 'cannot read it for nuts [?]'. Has had 'several letters from America, and some tins of food'.

"Lady, you said a mouthful" might be your reply to Moya's epistle, but I don't expect will be'. Has also had a letter from Moya recently; thinks she is lonely, and that 'letters of any sort... should cheer her'. Would very much like to see Bessie, but it cannot be this week; will be in touch.

Is lunching with Florence and Evert [Barger] in London tomorrow; Evert 'seems in good form, and has achieved his purpose in coming to England'. Though Forster has been 'told several times', he is unsure what this is, and 'dare not ask again'. Margaret was 'safely conveyed by Florence to Bristol'.

His mother is 'fairly well, though rather depressed because she has made some chutney which hasn't turned into proper chutney. It is delicious, but what is the use of that?'. Very sorry to hear about Sturge Moore's health; fears he 'can't think of anyone who could give any substantial contribution'

W[est] H[ackhurst]. Note at top of letter reads 'FOR BOB OR BESSIE', but it is addressed to 'Dear Bessie'. - Does not think she need worry about Florence and Margaret; when he saw Florence recently she was 'comfortably in bed', and when he rang on Tuesday Harriet said she was much better. Believes that Margaret's x-ray was satisfactory; she is 'now in the non-danger ward, and quite bright'. Expects Florence will write to Bessie later; she is resting as much as she can, and Harriet deals with phone calls.

His mother has been ill with 'cold, weakness, etc'; she has now recovered but is 'by now means the better for her illness'. Has concealed from her the 'extremer side of Margaret's trouble: said it was just a tumble'. Feels 'sick of everyone's health, including my own'.

Turns to 'a different kind of nuisance', which he was going to write about to Bob. Asks whether he has any news of Hugh Sykes Davies, who is 'giving a lot of trouble to the London Library'; he has books out worth over seven pounds, and 'won't answer letters'. Forster thinks this has been going on for over a year'. Wrote to him at the Committee's request via The Shiffolds about six months ago, and received no answer; the Committee have also written 'fruitlessly through their solicitor, and are contemplating prosecution, though they hate the idea'; Ilchester [the President] particularly has been 'very nice about it'. If Sykes Davies would 'only write, and acknowledge his existence and his whereabouts they would probably calm down'; wonders whether Bob could 'have a try at him', and fears that he is 'one who, when in trouble, always runs deeper into his hole'.

If his mother keeps well, they hope Bob will visit; he has 'already favoured Molly'.

West Hackhurst. - Thanks Bessie for her kind letter. His 'contusions swelled to exaggerated proportions' at Cambridge; he 'fell on [his] nose at the Wings for Victory Garden Party' and also bruised both wrists, but 'carried on as usual afterwards, and no bleeding'. Had not heard Max [Beerbohm?] 'nearly tumbled'. Wishes he had seen his lecture: has just been sent the proofs from Cambridge and 'as reading, it is rather flimsy'.

Has just had a letter from Moya Davies; she asks him to tell Bessie that she is 'very anxious to know about Leo Hubrecht and her children, especially Julie'; thinks they 'were at Switzerland just before the war, the younger children at school in Holland'. Also has a 'dear friend in Burma, Carola Toennies' and another in Italy, and has not had a word from either since the beginning of the war; supposes 'it is the same with everyone'. Gives Moya's address as 'Killadreenan House, Newtownmountkennedy, County Wicklow, Eire' in case Bessie wants to write direct, or he could send a message for her if she prefers. Richard [Moya's son] has a new wife 'in the place of Ann Stephen, who has got someone else [Richard Synge]'.

Is very pleased with the new Abinger Chronicle; 'not entirely carrried away' by his own contribution, but Bob's is 'very good'. Asks whether she agrees that they are generally *much more comfortable and vigourous [sic] on our own'; found S. S. [Sylvia Sprigge] a 'most enervating editress'.

His mother is 'fairly well, though she hasn't been up to her former level since illness at the beginning of the year'; she is enjoying the garden, which is 'lovely'. Hopes that Bessie will be able to visit soon, though next week he will be away a great deal. Went to see Florence [Barger] yesterday, who 'seems very well and is on yet another committee - reforming London University'; gathers Edith Mathews is staying with her. Margaret is 'cheerful, but no better, whatever Florence says or thinks or pretends to think'; would be better if she went to an institution, and she will have to one day as it is 'too much for Florence and Harriet'.

Sends his and his mother's love.