Did not come to I Tatti when Trevelyan was there as he was in quarantine in Rome, due to one of the Bracci boys having chickenpox or measles (cannot remember the right English word) which might have been dangerous for Mary [Berenson]; hopes to see him in the summer. Was good to read the short poems which Trevelyan sent to Nicky [Mariano]; expects he will see the dialogue soon. Spent a fortnight at I Tatti; a pleasure to see Mary so well, with 'nothing hectic in her state'. They went to four concerts in one week, including a performance by Huberman and Schnabel of all Beethoven's violin sonatas, played 'in quite a different way. Is going back to hear Cortot, Cazals and Thibaut [sic: Casals and Thibaud] playing the "Archduke sonata". Is not subscribing to the new "Life and Letters". Berenson has subscribed so he will look at it there. Has just finished [Woolf's] "Flush": found it 'an amazing performance but too much of a performance'; has also read some short stories by K[atherine] Mansfield which he cannot like and finds 'useless elaboration'. Will read Brennan's book soon, when Lina [Waterfield] returns it. Expects Trevelyan is glad about [Labour's] victory in the L.C.C [London County Council] elections, headed by [Herbert] Morrison. Was very angry about the 'so-called Viennese rebellion' [Austrian Civil War or February Uprising], especially as he suspects the Italian government had something to do with it.
British Museum, London: W.C.1. - Has not written before as he did not know where Bob was; but 'Mrs Riviere says Mrs Sickert says' Bob is near them, so he thinks this may well reach him [in Spain?]. The newspapers lead him to believe that Bob must be 'starving', but if he has flour 'there are all manner of amusing things' he could make. Binyon's adaptation of "Shakuntala" was acted at two matinées, but 'received rather gloomily'; he himself found it 'hopelessly boring', though Bateson and Ricketts were 'separately & independently enraptured'. [Alfred] Cortot has been performing a great deal; Waley now likes him less, and thinks it is only really the 'moderns' he plays well, while his performances of Beethoven, Chopin and so on are 'quite silly'; he will not play early music though he 'does it very well', but 'rams vulgarities like the worst sort of Liszt fireworks into his programs'. Forgot it 'infuriates' Bob when he talks about music. Expects Bessie and Julian are at the Shiffolds. Seems 'no prospect of Francis [Birrell] appearing in London' soon, which is 'very depressing'; hears that G Franklin has arrived, but 'not in this district, happily'.