93, High Street, Knaphill, Woking. - Is very sad and anxious: there has been a reversion to 'the state of things at Hedenham' before the Trevelyans made their 'most merciful and helpful interviention'. Had just written to Donald [Tovey] to invite him, Clara, and the chauffeur to stay with her in the case of 'anxiety about the Hospital buildings [due to the war]'; he would then be able to stay in touch with Dr de Souza at Harley Street; she got her housekeeper to ring the hospital and was told he and Lady Tovey had gone back to Hedenham on the 24th. Has just had a letter from her and Donald's solicitor in Edinburgh; gathers that Lady Tovey has been 'very impudent.. paid all the bills, and wound everything up at the Hospital'. Worries about the damp at Hedenham and Donald's medical care; the local doctore [Dr Corbett] came to see her and was 'obviously incompetent and untruthful'. It is cruel: Donald's hands were recovering to the point that she and Mary Grierson both hoped he might be able to make some recordings of his playing; he has been 'induced to ask the university for a term's leave of absence' which means he will spend months at Hedenham. Thinks he 'would not be sane now' had it not been for the Trevelyans' intervention; also blesses Dr Bluth. The prospect of another great European war is 'the blackest cloud'. Says 'we are not really a European power'; always made her shiver when 'that kind man Mr Chamberlain... talked of Europe as if it was a schoolroom and he its governess'; keeps reading Donald's essays and remembers that her mother used to say 'Beethoven did not beg for peace, he ordered it' (quotes the German), but they cannot do that
University of Edinburgh headed notepaper. - Thanks Bessie for the letter. Is very glad his wife has friends among his friends, but warns her that Grettie 'will tell each person just what that person will... believe'; her guesses are shrewd, as when she guessed Bessie would think Tovey wants Haydn Brown 'to change her feelings'. A 'doctor doesn't take instructions like a solicitor', but Tovey's would have been for Brown to make Grettie well and 'establish her sanity'; he would then accept her decision; if Brown cannot, Tovey must have it established that he himself 'can do no more'. Believes that stage has been reached, and his responsibility ceases. His wife has been telling different stories to different people: Tovey asks if she told Bessie, as she did Mrs Sklovsky [Lucy Romain], that Dr Haig Ferguson had signed a statement saying the operation he carried out 'was necessitated by injuries originally inflicted by [Tovey]'. Dr Haig Ferguson of course 'flatly denies it'. Grettie also wrote to E. S. P. Haynes, whom she consulted not knowing he was a Balliol friend of Tovey's. Insists that he is not blaming Grettie, but pointing out 'her lack of moral responsibility, & the extreme danger of being misled by her'. Cannot say what he intends to do until he has seen his lawyer, Guthrie, and Bessie will be in a better position towards Grettie if she does not know what he plans. The action taken by Grettie through Messrs Freke Palmer, 'rather a Horatio Bottomley sort of firm', if not defended or if won by her, would leave Tovey 'on record as incapable of marriage', which he denies. Whatever he does will be 'in camera', but he must protect himself against the 'dangerous state of affairs' if he let 'things slide'; has already shown he will consider Grettie's interests.
Postmarked Edinburgh. - Has left everything in order [relating to the production of "The Bride of Dionysus". His lawyer] Guthrie is going over the contract 'in friendly detail with the business men'. Hopes Bob will not mind a really important he has made in the conversation between Ariadne and Dionysus [in Act III].
The Pantiles, Englefield Gren, Surrey. - Asks Trevelyan to send Haydn Brown's "Advanced Suggestion" to Charles Guthrie, as it is 'wanted for legal cases'. Does not know when his case [the divorce from his first wife] 'is coming off': his 'hair came off long ago'.
39 Royal Terrace, Edinburgh. - Thinks all going well so far [with the production of "The Bride of Dionysus"] except for the disappointment that one of the best local performers is now unavailable. Tovey's friend and solicitor [Charles] Guthrie will deal with cash transactions. Asks if Trevelyan is prepared for a 'much larger expense' than Tovey's initial estimate of two thousand pounds; reminds him that something will come in from the box-office. Cannot take the orchestra through the score in fewer than six rehearsals, two for each act. Trevelyan must be firm in his support of Tovey when Hedmont [producer] and probably Ricketts [designer] want to make cuts. Tovey states that he will not conduct or attend a performance with cuts; if necessary, the local man [David Stephen] who is scheduled to conduct one performance can take them all, and Tovey 'can go abroad for a very necessary cure'. However, Hedmont is very successful in getting people to work with him: has the reputation of 'getting things done in 3 minutes over the heads of all the trade-union jibbings & jobbings' and the singers are all devoted to him. Is sure he will be able to get the singers to want to do the whole opera. As the financier as well as author, Trevelyan must be very firm. If it is a 'physical impossibility' to perform the whole piece, Tovey would rather omit the first part of Act II than 'put up with local mutilations', but they should not mention that possibility unless they must.