Intended to send a small book of his "Translations from Leopardi", but then decided to wait until Julian and Ursula next come here, as they 'might easily lose it moving about'. Pity they cannot come now, when the flowers in the woods are at their best. All quite well here; the [Sturge] Moores will return in a month. Originally enclosing, on Bessie's request, a photograph of 'the street in Forest Green that [Julian] used to admire'. The Bluths and Tet Htoot were here at Easter, but otherwise they 'seem to see nobody'. Hopes that Tet Htoot will bring two Chinese friends to visit. A 'bad London raid last night'; hopes he and the Bluths are all right; Irene [Cooper Willis?] has fortunately been away. Has very few friends in London now besides these, Logan [Pearsall Smith] and Alys [Russell]. Virginia [Woolf]'s death 'a great blow'; she 'felt she was going out of her mind again and could not face it'. Is re-reading "To the Lighthouse", his favourite of her books; is writing something on her for the "Abinger Chronicle", but it is 'impossible to say anything adequate in the way of criticism'. Forgets whether Julian knew her. Is continuing to translate Montaigne and getting 'a little bored with it'; 'much more fun writing poetry, even if it is not worth much'. Hopes Julian has managed to see Ursula at Taunton, and that she is well again. Has heard from G.M.T. [his brother George] that Charles is giving Wallington to the National Trust now instead of leaving it in his will; he will continue to live there, and one of the family (probably his son George Lowthian) will stay there after his death; this will save on death-duties so there will be much more money for the children. Supposes this should not be discussed until it is announced. Hopes Bessie will go with Miss Simpkins for a few days to George and Janet next month; otherwise she never 'goes away from here, which is not good for her'.
Was at the Deuchars' [Tommy and Dulcie] house yesterday, and met an Australian painter called [Colin] Colahan who lived for some years in Paris and the last three in England; does not know what his painting is like; he seems to be a friend of [George] Bernard Shaw, and has painted him. Will have to register next September, but would like to get into Julian's 'line of business' [camouflage work], which Bob thinks he would be better suited for than the regular army or munitions. He seems to have applied for this some months ago, but has heard nothing since. Julian might advise him who to approach; whether he is a good painter or not, he is 'very intelligent, and has plenty of energy', and seems 'quite a good sort' from an hour's acquaintance. Gives his address at Ockley. Bessie is quite well; [Karl] Bluth has been very ill, though better the last time Bessie rang [his wife] Theo; it is his 'old duodenal trouble'. Has written a few poems, one 'an interpretation in blank verse of an ass's bray'. Hopes Julian and Ursula are well, and that Ursula is 'enlarging her Urceolarian knowledge with her potter friend [Michael Cardew]': urceolus is Latin for 'a little pitcher or water pot'.
The Master's Lodge, Trinity College, Cambridge. - Thanks 'Auntie Bess' for her 'jolly letter', which went up to Hallington in the letter to 'Mummy T' [Janet]. Agrees with Mr Badley now her two boys have been born, but would have been happy with a boy and a girl as providing a brother for Tommy. The government has gave her 120 pre-natal coupons, and she now has [ration] books for both twins. G[eorge] and H[umphry] look very different from each other; she is alternating their feeds, with the nurse bottle-feeding in between, and the doctor is pleased with them. Has had a long rest in Cambridge, having left the rest of the family behind; will be very glad to return, after almost eight weeks. Hopes all the Trevelyan cousins will meet one day: Tom, Philip and the twins could have 'great gambols together'; wonders how soon they will 'all forgather at Wallington of a summer', as their fathers did. Bessie must find it an 'eternal joy' to have Philip with her; hopes the Bluths will have some pictures of him.
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Kitty and Molly suggest that Bessie and Miss Cook should get a first class ticket, otherwise they may have trouble getting seats, and '[p]orters are few'. Wonders whether Julian could meet them at Waterloo and see them to Kings Cross and onto the train; otherwise they could go to London on Wednesday and stay with the Bluths or elsewhere to give them time to get to Kings Cross. Bob would come to see her after his broadcast, then go to the National Liberal Club; perhaps Julian could get Bessie and Miss Cook rooms at a hotel, since he would not.be able to put them up at [Durham] Wharf. Finding it a 'little dull' since it is hard to get conversation with all the children around and everyone so busy, though he sees John [Dower] most morning and will go for a short walk with Kitty today.
Havering, Bent Field End, Stansted, Essex. - Thanks Bessie for her letter and the two Bottomley letters. They had a pleasant time in Bath with Riette and her friends. Binyon came for the last weekend and lectured on Persian painting; he and Moore read from their poetry at a Mrs Knight's, a 'tall and elegant lady' with a 'tiny little husband... an artist not much out of the ordinary but intelligent' [Charles Neil Knight?]. Went for some 'delightful excursions' along the Avon. Is charmed by his two granddaughters in Stansted, the household is calm and he thinks there will be no reason to cut short their stay. Saw [their son] Dan in London, who 'looked tired and worn'; hopes he will come for a few days soon; is reading a Hemingway he lent him. Sends his love to the Bluths [Karl and Theo ] and Tet Htoot, and friendly greetings to Miss S [Simpkins].
Very happy to hear from Mrs [Theo?] Bluth that Julian had returned safely. Marie sends thanks for the phone-calls and cards; he thanks her for the spectacles which arrived safely this morning. Spent some time with Riette at the National Gallery yesterday; she is going to Stansted tomorrow. Thanks for all her hospitality.
The Shiffolds [this is an error for Wallington]. - Very glad to hear from Bessie's letter that her 'oily difficulties are solved'. His legs are much better, but there is still some eczema on the thighs and arms. Very glad that Morgan Forster is recovering, if slowly. Does not know if he can find a quotation for him [for the libretto of "Billy Budd", see 3/83], but when he returns home to his books he will try; agrees it should not matter whether it is a real quotation. The paper Bessie sent was not an income tax receipt, but a tithe receipt. Went to tea at the Two Queens' yesterday; Geoffrey and Len [Winthrop Young] were both very pleasant, and they hope to see them again. Catherine [Abercrombie] is going by bus to Edinburgh to stay the night with [her son] David one day next week. Kitty's Elizabeth and Catharine arrived this morning, and he thinks Kitty and Erika come on Monday. Things 'seem to go smoothly here'; Charles is 'cheerful'; Molly's laryngitis is much better; Catherine sends love to Bessie. Hopes the Bluths will be able to come; later on if he [Karl] is not better.
Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - Cold weather here, with some rain and hail, but the house is 'kept fairly warm'. Kitty left this morning; her children stay here. Marjorie's children are 'nice but noisy, talk the whole time, but are charming and amusing'. Going to tea tomorrow to say goodbye to the Youngs. Catherine [Abercrombie] was driven by a friend to Edinburgh, and stayed a night with [her son] David. [Claude] Colleer Abbott is coming on 18 April for the night. Molly's laryngitis is better, but she needs to be careful not to talk too much. Very glad the Bluths are better; asks Bessie to give them his love. Is better himself in general, 'but it is a slow business'; the 'lotion bottle' and parcel arrived all right.
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - They have written to Dr McKenna to see if he can see Bob on Thursday afternoon; would start home from there around 5 pm if so. Will let Bessie know as soon as possible; meanwhile the eczema seems 'a good deal better'. Kitty has gone hiking with a friend, leaving the children here. Molly's laryngitis is 'very much better'. Went to tea [with the Winthrop Youngs] at the Two Queens, which was 'very pleasant'. Charles is 'cheerful and active', and is reading "Middlemarch" to them in the evenings, which he does very well. They have seen Edith Bulmer sever times; she is worried about her boy, Martin, who 'is always getting bad colds and coughs'; she sends Bessie her love. Hopes the Bluths are well; sends his love. Hopes that Mrs MacEvoy is well, and sends 'kind remembrances' to her, Miss Goddard, and Mrs Young.
Wallington. - Went to Hallington yesterday for tea; afraid Janet was 'no better, in fact noticeably less well' than when he saw her last, though she tried to be cheerful; she was 'very nervouse [sic] with her hands in a way that was new, and told me the same thing over again'. Clough Williams Ellis was 'very agreeable' and cheered George up a little, he also got Charles to talk; sorry he has gone this morning. The house is not noisy, considering there are 'three or four children in it at present'. Hopes all well at the Shiffolds; asks when the Bluths are coming and whether they are still at Cambridge. No reading aloud here at the moment, so he and Catherine [Abercrombie] sometimes read "Pride and Prejudice". Charles is 'much more affable than he used to be'. It is the Cambo Exhibition, which may involve 'a lot of tiring standing about'. Very glad Ada is at the Shiffolds. Hopes Bessie could make out [Gaetano] Salvemini's address; she should ring up Alys Russell, who will know it, if not; he knows it is 'Miss Massie', but not her initials so cannot look her up.
Has just got Bessie's letter: as Mr Orchard says this is 'the best solution', and Julian agrees, it had 'better be done as soon as possible'. Has been 'rather poorly' but is now much better, and is hoping to go to Cambridge on 15 or 16 February. Mr McEvoy seems pretty well, but is going back to hospital next week. Bob's book ["Translations from Greek Poetry"] is out; he has sent copies to Dora Sanger, Mary Fletcher, and the Bluths. Hopes Bessie is getting better.
Has not written for a few days, but has not had much news; all 'pretty well in spite of the cold'; hopes Bessie has been able to continue her 'short walks'. Went to Leith Hill Place yesterday and had a 'delightful talk' with [Leslie] Hotson, the 'scholar who has so many documents about Shakespeare and Marlow and their contemporaries'; used to know him in the Quakers Mission in France during the First World War, and he was also an old friend of Lascelles and Catherine [Abercrombie]. The Times Lit[erary] Supplement is sending him a book of translations from Greek poetry by F. L. Lucas for review ["Greek Poetry for Everyman"]; 'sure to be interesting', and much of it probably good; will keep him occupied for 'some time'. Thinks he has told Bessie about the dinner the [Apostles'] Society are giving in honour of him, George and Desmond [MacCarthy]; they have promised not to make Bob give a speech, so he can enjoy his dinner. May be his last visit to [George and Janet] at the Lodge [since George's time as Master of Trinity is nearly over]. Will see Humphry and G.E. M[oore]. Hopes to visit Bessie again soon when it is 'not quite so cold'. Wrote to Bertie [Russell] recently. Asks to be remembered to K.T. B[luth] and Theo.