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39, Royal Terrace, Edinburgh. - Donald quite agrees about the London performance of his opera ["The Bride of Dionysus", for which Trevelyan wrote the libretto], and was glad Trevelyan expressed himself 'so decidedly'. Donald has been in bed for the last fortnight, except when he conducted the Reid Concert on 24 March. Has been much better the last few days, and she hopes his doctor will let him go out tomorrow and they can leave at the end of the week; they hope to go and stay with the Duncan Toveys at Worplesdon. Trevelyan's ideas for doing Donald's music in London all sound very interesting; he must discuss it when he comes. They will be glad if he comes and stays until 24 April; Eydua Liddell is coming then and Clara has invited her as John [Tovey] will be at home, so they only have one spare room, but she hopes he will come anyway. As for press seats, last time [Sir Hugh?] Allen brought [Henry Cope?] Colles up; thinks he was the only London critic and that any other English papers used their 'men up here'. They look forward to seeing Bessie when she is up. Donald is to conduct on Monday, Friday and Saturday. A postscript adds that Donald thinks it best to sent tickets for the critics 'without writing'; he particularly does not want Colles to come so perhaps it would be best to leave the "Times" alone, or to say that Colles was not wanted.

Hedenham Lodge, Bungay, Suffolk. - Always glad to hear from Bessie: her letters 'bring back many happy memories'. Apologises that the letter is not in her own hand: it is so difficult for her now that she hardly writes to anyone but John [Tovey]. He is on the India-Burma front, and finds the climate very trying but is otherwise fairly cheerful. The death of Donald [Charles Edward Tovey, her husband's nephew?] a 'great loss' to the family; Duncan [Tovey, another nephew?] is also unwell; Mollie [Tovey?] and family seem well, but she had hoped to see them here and a holiday and they were afraid to travel. Feels as if [Hubert] Foss has lost all interest in the biography [of Donald Tovey?] and will never finish it. Is glad Bessie has been able to have Julian and his family with her, and that the flying bombs have not been near. They have been fortunate [in Edinburgh] and quiet except for planes overhead. She goes out occasionally in fine weather, and has been on a few short drives.

The Old Post House, Worplesdon, Near Guildford, Surrey. - Hopes [Bob's military] Tribunal went well. His wife is now back again in the Acland Nursing Home. The 'strange outbreak on the top of Leith Hill' about three weeks ago was, as he thought, not quite normal, and there were 'very disquieting signs' when they went to Emsworth; however, there were explanations for everything and plenty of normal and interesting conversation with his sister-in-law [Constance] about the boys and the school to disguise her illness, and the doctor was not called until Saturday. The 'first-rate' local man is hopeful, and thinks that Grettie's own ideas about what is wrong with her are 'very sound and should be carried out'; her ideas about what is good for him are 'mere pathological symptoms' and her outlook will probably change when she recovers. Her condition over the last month, including the church-going, has been a 'mask' over 'a tangle of quite different troubles and doubts'. Does not know what the solution will be, and must be prepared for disappointment, but thinks their 'psychology was correct when [they] made Ariadne distinctly disapprove of Dionysus at first'. The plan is for Grettie to spend at least a fortnight in the Acland, putting things including teeth-trouble right, then to come to stay with Tovey's sister-in-law, whom she likes, living 'a garden life' and interesting herself in family doings, while Tovey keeps away till wanted.

18 Buccleuch Place, Edinburgh. - Has spent many months in 'an amazement of sorrow' [after Donald Tovey's death]; has long wanted to write about him, even before he died, and 'it has been a horror of misery' to fear that she cannot; old age seems to have descended on her 'like an avalanche', and then there is the 'sadness and terror and knowledge of what was happening to Donald in these last fifteen years'. Has recently found a letter and enclosure to Dr Bluth in her writing table; Dr Bluth knows Lady Tovey 'did not like him', as she did not like Edinburgh, Donald having friends here, or Donald seeing anything of her. The doctor at Hedenham told her so many lies at Knaphill that she instructed him to leave: he and Lady Tovey 'killed' Donald. Has found Dr Bluth's address and will write. Not being able to write about Donald is the worst of her griefs since he died; will try, but hopes the Trevelyans will write a great deal too, as '[n]o one knew him better'. Is having a marble memorial slab put in Worplesdon Church, which Duncan [Donald's nephew] and the Rector Mr Chitty 'are glad of and like'. John [Wellcome Tovey] is now in the regular army, somewhere in the south west; he writes to her 'every Sunday in German' and sends her his laundry; grieves that Donald lost 'him too'; John is anxious about a German friend in Cologne, because of the bombing.

93, High Street, Knaphill, Woking. - Thanks Bessie; a comfort to know [Dr Bluth's] name and address; will "wait to hear what he has to say" then will want a 'real Aussprache [discussion]' with him; behind all Donald [Tovey]'s illnesses 'lies a most tragical story', known by the two doctors at Bath who were so anxious about him. The climate at Hedenham is an 'added evil'; she therefore offered them 'this dry little house by Bisley common' for as long as they liked; she could have stayed on in Edinburgh and Donald's 'delightful nephew' Duncan Tovey lives nearby. Instead it was decided to go to Hedenham. The Hedenham doctor [Corbett] who came to see her here struck her ' so unfavourably' that she told him she had 'no confidence in him'. If Dr Bluth comes to see her, as she hopes, asks if she could offer him a fee.

93, High Street, Knaphill, Woking. - Dr Bluth and Dr de Souza, have made her 'responsible for Donald's welfare'; she knows that 'poor Lady Tovey' has never done him or John [Wellcome Tovey] 'anything but harm'. Dr de Souza has been 'most kind' and told her 'every detail of his illness and treatment'; Dr Bluth is still in the North at Newport, 'taking charge of a hospital', she has written to ask him to return by the end of the month and to Dr de Souza beginning him to keep Donald in hospital 'for at least another month' and guaranteeing the cost since she has to go to Nauheim if she is 'not to become an invalid' herself. Saw Donald last week; he 'ardently desired' a 'garden syringe to squirt water on the little people' in the garden below and a piano to play. TheX-ray shows the joints in his hands had 'not yet ankylosed' so there is 'hope of him playing and even recording' again. He must not return to Hedenham again, and she hopes 'to get him out of Royal Terrace in Edinburgh', which faces 'straight onto the seafogs at the mouth of the Firth of Forth'. Dr de Souza insists on Donald walking; she has often urged him to do so but Lady Tovey just 'murmurs "The motor is at the door" and D. obediently creeps in'.

Changes since she started writing the letter: they have given Donald a piano in the hospital; thinks there is 'nothing they would not do for him' and Dr Bluth tells her Dr de Souza 'delights in his witty and brilliant conversation'. Supposes that he will therefore stay there 'for three months or longer' and will be able to go to Nauheim without anxiety. Now worries about John: fears he has been 'completely idle at Cambridge', and Donald's 'delightful and kind nephew' Duncan says Lady Tovey gives him 'far too much money'; he is now 'idling at Hedenham'. Thanks Bessie very much for sending Dr Bluth to her; he has been 'both very clever and very kind'.