The Mill House, Westcott, Dorking. - Apologises for not writing sooner; never managed to write when he had so much spare time at Wallington, and now he has returned and begun work 'can easily find time'. Bessie may not yet think the house perfect, but it is 'already far more beautiful and comfortable' than he ever thought a house of his could be; she gets on very well with the housekeeper [Mrs Enticknap] and he can hear them talking at the moment; sometimes after they have had long talks there are 'such wonderful vegetables for dinner, cooked in some delightful out-landish fashions'. Even the vegetables at Wallington improved, 'especially the carrots and peas'. Bessie has been translating her "Nederlandsch Volksliederenboek" for him; some are very pretty, and he would one day like to translate them himself; he has not yet translated [Joost van den] Vondel. Hopes she, her husband, and the others will like [Thomas Love] Peacock's stories; some of the allusions to 'contemporary literary or political ideas which are now almost forgotten' may be difficult, but he thinks they will find them amusing; rememberes that the best are "Headlong Hall", "Nightmare Abbey" about Shelley, and perhaps "Maid Marian". Bessie has sent Bramine "Emma" by Jane Austen; sure she would also like that. Sorry she is not quite well, and hopes she will recover before winter. Very sad that Tuttie [Marie Hubrecht] is so unwell; hopes she will be able to get to Switzerland soon. Glad that the Grandmonts may build a house in the country; remembers the country by Doorn as being very pretty. He and Bessie went to Haslemere last Friday to visit the Joachims and some other friends and enjoyed it very much; was his first meeting with 'old Mr [Joseph] Joachim'; went for a walk with young Harold and visited his 'old haunts' like his old house Roundhurst, while Bessie stayed at home and talked. Hears that Bramine is painting Maria's portrait in the lace dress she wore at Elizabeth and Robert's wedding, which he so much liked; asks to be remembered to the family. Herbert Jones is getting married tomorrow, and they will send a telegram.
bei Frau Aumer Medenwaldt [?], Von der Heydtstrasse 1, Berlin. - Sends his latest suggestions [for the libretto of "The Bride of Dionysus"]. Asks if the opera could be divided into three acts instead of four: sets out his ideas for altering the time of Act II from morning to evening, and the advantages this change brings, including for lighting and scenery. Thinks that the whole opera will be about as long as [Wagner's] "Tristan und Isolde"; fears Ariadne's part in the last act will be 'more than any mortal singers can hold out' but will consider what can be done when he gets there. Someone has raised doubts as to whether it is 'too late-Roman to identify Iacchus with Bacchus'. Seems to suggest an anti-Stratfordian view: referring to the' sea-coasts of Bohemia', he supposes 'Bacon would have been careful about his geography if he had to write a Twelfth Night for an audience of Drakes and Raleghs'. His father wishes for a long 'o' in the scansion of 'Minotaur', but he 'evidently can't always get it'. Asks for assistance with 'the taurophone': thinks the only way to make this non-comic would be for a human chorus to 'bellow the death-cries' and wants these to be some syllables 'that wouldn't be Greek to Jebb' but would sound so to the audience; wants there to be some suggestion of humanity. Proposes "The Bride of Dionysus" as the title. Asks about moving the song about Pan; worries about the amount of chorus in the opera. Has opening phrases for Ariadne, Theseus and Minos and other themes.
Does not know how long he will be in Berlin. Joachim is dying but he cannot see him so as not to over-excite him. Joachim is very happy that Harold [his nephew] is engaged to [his daughter] Liesl.
10 Prinsegracht. - Originally enclosing a new photograph of herself, wearing a green dress and Bob's 'favourite hat'. Had an excellent evening at the Piersons' last night; [the Joachim Quartet] played a late Beethoven quartet she had never heard before, which made her 'nearly jump into the sky', and then a Schumann one. Talked to [Joseph] Joachim; hopes they will meet him again, perhaps at Harold Joachim's family's house at Haslemere. Alice and Herbert Jones arrived this morning; since Herbert is returning home tonight he has done lots of sightseeing with her uncle, then Bessie took him to the Mauritshuis picture galley. She and Alice are going to the Joachim concert tonight. Felt 'quite schooly again' seeing them; they talked lots about Bob. The Joneses were staying in the same pension at Dresden as Lily Hodgkin and 'her brother (the Oxford one); the brother is studying German and Lily music; Lily wanted Alice to send her Bob's address so that she could send a wedding present. Herbert 'seemed rather astonished if not shocked' that the wedding was not to be in a church; supposes the idea is rather 'awful' for an English clergyman. He is 'very bright & cheerful... & humorous as ever', though she does not think he is 'ein feinfühlender Mensch [sensitive man]'.
The Hague. - Agrees with Bob that he should not come over till mid-May, and does not think her uncle seriously wishes him to come earlier; does not understand why he is having friends to stay and going visiting again if he wants to get some more work done, but is glad he is going to see them. Thinks there will be plenty of time for business or visiting; they might go to Utrecht, Amsterdam and Rotterdam, and would love to go with him to Heerde in Gelderland where her sister [Henriette] lives; will have to go there to see the children and her husband the doctor before she leaves, though her sister is probably coming to the wedding. Does not know where Bob left the bed catalogue; thinks she remembers seeing it last in Charles's room at Grosvenor Crescent; asks if they can order a softer mattress. Will measure her Dutch pillowcases tomorrow and send him the measurements; further discussion of fittings and furniture, and arrangements for packing and unpacking her things. Bob should ask his mother about what tie he should wear with his frock coat; Dutch husbands always wear white tie with their evening dress; thinks blue or green suit him if he is to choose a coloured tie. If the patent boots he wore to Roger [Fry]'s wedding are still good he can wear them again. Hopes he will soon hear from Mrs Pepper; 'what a name for a honeymoon lady!!'. Spent two nights at Almelo which were enjoyable but so hot she had difficulty sleeping; Jeanne [Salamonson Asser] very kindly tried to 'read her to sleep out of "Pilgrim's Progress"'. Then went to Amsterdam, where she helped Mien [Röntgen] arrange the flowers and table, before they went to the [Joachim] concert which was 'delightful beyond words'; they did a Haydn, Brahms and a Beethoven quartet. Then they returned for the supper party, at which '[Bob's] friend young Harold Joachim, the Oxford fellow' was present; he sat next to her at supper and seems a 'very nice fellow'; they had met once before at St Andrews when she thought him 'a strange odd person & was in great awe of him'. Thinks Harold wants her and Bob to come and see them at Haslemere when 'Uncle Jo' is staying with them; Bessie was at school with his sister. Tomorrow the quartet are in the Hague, and Harold is crossing by night so she has invited him to lunch. When healths were being drunk at the end of the meal and she went up to Joachim to touch glasses, he at once proposed 'Ihr Bräutigam' ['Your bridegroom']; he remembered that Bob's father had once taken him home in his carriage. On Tuesday she went to see her 'socialist sister [Theodora] and her husband [Herman Heijenbrock]' on their farm and enjoyed her day with them more than she had expected to; they are very happy together and she admires their convictions though they do not convince her.
Returns to the letter next day, before going to meet [Alice and Herbert] Jones. Is sure Bob would be 'amused' to meet the socialist couple, but he [Heijenbrock] does not know English so it would be no good. Then went to stay with the aunt who lives nearby; she is not a 'favourite' in their house and they do not see her often, but several of her sisters see her often; the aunt was very friendly but it is never pleasant to be there. Fortunately her daughter, Bessie's cousin, was also there. Found her uncle and aunt fairly well when she returned, but the house is in 'a horrible state' due to the repainting, and they both have a slight cold. Went to the station to meet the Jones and they did not appear; English visitors 'always change their plans at the last minute or miss trains... or don't wire in time' as is the case for the Joneses, who are now coming tomorrow. [Harold] Joachim also cannot come to lunch and is calling in the afternoon. [Joseph] Joachim is staying tonight with Mr [Nicolaas] Pierson, the Finance Minister, and his wife, who has invited Bessie to a select party this evening. Is going to the concert tomorrow night with Alice Jones; the Röntgens may also come. The cellist [Robert] Hausmann is 'a charming person, so refined and artistic'; talked to him the other night and he admired Bob's ring. Bob will get this letter when he comes up to London to see his father. She thinks he should bring any work she has not seen on their honeymoon, as they might not have much quiet time before the wedding. Understands that his 'literary ambition is not connected with [his] love' and thinks this is right. Last half page with pillowcase measurements.
Highlands, Haslemere, Surrey. - Very glad she [and her husband? see 18/18] can come; Friday will suit them 'admirably'. Uncle Jo is here.
Highlands, Haslemere, Surrey. - His mother and all the family would be 'very glad' if the Trevelyans could come to lunch next week; they usually lunch at one but could easily make it later if that would be more convenient. They hope that Uncle Joseph will be staying with them - though this is a secret ; knows he would be very glad to see both Trevelyans.
c/o H.H. Joachim, Highlands, Haslemere. - Asks if he may come on Monday, which he thinks is the 11th; is sorry that his plans have been settled so late. Is looking forward to his visit very much, and will bring 'concertos & songs ad libitum, or ad tedium, if not ad infinitum'.