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The Athenaeum, Pall Mall, S.W.1. - Is delighted that [Edward] Renton is so efficient [see 7/70]. The 'Massacre of the Nereids' [in "The Bride of Dionysus"] 'Opens a Serious Door' but Tovey may see a compromise: this is more difficult in Act III than in Act I. Gives musical notation for the theme. Renton's suggestion to restore Tovey's 'old rejected long sequence is interesting' but he does not think it will work. Asks Trevelyan to find 'three cries' for the Nereids to utter in each act.

39, Royal Terrace, Edinburgh, 7. - Is glad that Trevelyan has seen someone at the B.B.C. about 'this disgraceful jiggery-pokery as to [Tovey's] concerts'. Wrote to [Adrian] Boult at once, assuming that he was not to blame; Trevelyan's letter enabled him to write again 'in still friendlier terms', saying that his concerto would be much easier than anything else Boult could do with [Pablo] Casals. The 'pretext of difficulty in rehearsing is only a damned lie' as any musician who knows Casals and Tovey's scoring would see, but 'illness covers all' and Tovey cannot suppose he would do any better in Boult's circumstances. Trevelyan will have heard from Edward Renton, whom Tovey is paying a hundred pounds towards 'his prospective adventures in Russia' for producing a copy of the full score of "The Bride of Dionysus", with both German and English text. Renton has been useful to Fritz Busch, and his Edinburgh University scholarships have now run out; Tovey will be grateful for any kindness Trevelyan can show him.

39, Royal Terrace, Edinburgh, 7. - Has waited before seeing [Edward] Renton before answering Bessie's letter, and he was 'in Edinburgh a whole week and more before he came here'; believes that he was ill for part of the time, and had been ill in London; he does not look well. He has finished two acts of the Opera, 'words and translation written in'. Schotts wrote asking for a score recently 'as Adrian Bolt [sic] wanted to look at it'; the first two acts are with the BBC and Renton has started on the third act though Clara is not sure how much has been done. Is sorry not to have good news of Donald: he is very depressed, having been sick three times in forty-eight hours after a fortnight of relief. Dr Thin seemed to think him better yesterday, and advised him to do more, especially since Donald wishes to conduct part of the next Reid Concert; this morning therefore he went out for the first time in over eight weeks, for a half-hour drive, but was sick as soon as he got in. Does not know whether the doctors know what is the matter; all they have said to her is that due to bad circulation his 'digestive organs are not properly fit'; they assure her he is better but she finds it hard to believe. Well enough herself, but longs for 'a little heat and sun'. Renton did not show Donald any of his work; when Donald asked about the score he received the information above; she has not seen Renton alone and does not like to upset Donald by raising the question.

39, Royal Terrace, Edinburgh, 7. - Donald is getting on, but very slowly, and with setbacks; he is allowed up for a short time each afternoon, and is 'dreadfully depressed'. If he sees no-one he thinks he is 'dull' and no-one wants to visit; if people come 'he will talk' then cannot sleep and is sick again. Knows nothing about [Edward] Renton, 'good or bad', and Donald is too ill to be worried about it. Hopes she has good news from Bob and is well herself.

39, Royal Terrace, Edinburgh, 7. - Thinks she is a little better than in the summer, and has let 'so many things slide' that she is not busy at all. Misses Molly [Grierson?] very much, though Miss Morah [?] is 'most helpful and obliging'; Molly has not been to see them as she is busy at home, but they went to stay with her for two nights last week; good to see her looking 'very well and very interested in all her household & parish things'. Have heard nothing from [Edward] Renton; believes he is coming up to conduct [the Reid Concert] on 26 Jan, but that is a long way away. Does not know what to suggest: perhaps Bob could ask to see what he has done; Donald is 'so vague' it is hard to get definite opinions from him, although perhaps if Bob wrote he might reply with an opinion on what is to be done. Gathers from [Victor] Hely-Hutchinson that Rontgen is unlikely to get the South African job. Donald was glad of the news about Joachim Röntgen; as ever, he likes to have news of his friends.

Very glad that Ursula is better. [Edward] Renton has not answered his letter; expects he will not; Bob should not have written, and it was a greater mistake not to remember to ask for the piano-score and [German] translation [for Bob and Donald Tovey's opera, the "Bride of Dionysus"] Does not like to ask, but perhaps Julian could go to see Renton and ask for it; suspects when he went Renton 'did not want [him] to see what little of the score he had recopied'. Would like the translation, as it would 'be at any rate something for the hundreds of pounds Donald and I have thrown away on him'. Donald Tovey is 'evidently dying', and 'poor Alice Elms died yesterday, rather suddenly'. Quite likely that Renton would say there is 'no piano-score and translation there', but he is a 'complete lyar [sic]'. Not vitally important now, as there is no question of a German translation 'for years to come', but Donald had 'set his heart on getting it ready for the future' and approved Renton's version. A 'great thing' to have got back the score.

106 Thirlestane Road, Edinburgh. - Feels ashamed that he has not written sooner; got Trevelyan's letter and cheque just before leaving London, and managed not to bring Trevelyan's address with him; then has been caught up in a great 'confusion of arrangements' involving alterations to the programme since Sir Donald [Tovey] could not play and subsequent corrections when he was told the Scottish [Symphony Orchestra] and Reid [Orchestra] had already played works this season. Was also given contradictory information as to whether he was to conduct the whole concert or not; eventually Dr Grierson conducted the first half and he the second; encloses one of the notices [no longer present]. The orchestra misses Sir Donald very much, and there has been a concerning fall in attendance. Sir Donald is 'much better and quite cheerful', but Renton does not think he will be fit enough to return soon, so either Tovey will 'come back too soon and wear himself out', or the 'confusion and lack of direction in the Faculty and in the Orchestra' will become dangerous; Dr Grierson 'does heroic work' but 'cannot be more than a pale shadow of Sir Donald' and there is nobody else. Will stop at Birmingham on his way back to London to see [Victor] Hely Hutchinson about the SA [South Africa?] job, though thinks this is 'no good'; however, has heard from the NBC [National Broadcasting Company?] manager who is 'very hopeful that he can pull off the American job'. Will send further news from London; hopes Trevelyan is having a good time in Italy; here they are 'enveloped in snow and sleet'.