Northlands, Englefield Green, Surrey. - Asks Bessie to help her 'by preventing even a single word more about the Casals business' [the quarrel between Donald Tovey and Pablo Casals about Guilhermina Suggia]. Insists that Donald is ill; wishes she had known some things sooner; telegraphed for permission to read 'a huge fat letter' from Amsterdam before sending it to him at Hewell but was 'rather snubbingly refused', but if she had known even a little of the 'Münchhausiaden [tall tales]' in it she would have put it on the fire. Feels all their friends, with only two exceptions, have done 'the most injudicious things' and thought they could judge the matter better than she could with the result that she knows almost nothing of what has been happening. Donald has 'poured the whole story out everywhere', even to her old friend Eugenie Schumann at Interlaken and her two sisters [Marie, and Elise?], 'whom he has never much liked', and she has received a long letter from Eugenie today 'greatly excited by Donald's "wrongs" and very disapproving' of her. Everything makes it very difficult to welcome him back and give him 'the love and care he needs if he is to be safe'. Was so anxious about him going to Vendrell, even though she knew nothing of what had happened in Vienna, that she wrote to Lady [Evelyn] de Vesci for details about a hotel in the Pyrenees where she might stay; felt ashamed of her 'anxiety and distrust' and returned to Germany but wishes now she had gone to Spain. Asks Bessie to write to the Röntgens asking them never to mention the quarrel with Casals to Donald again. Must now try and patch up the concerts, though she hates the thought of them.
39 Royal Terrace, Edinburgh, 7. - Would be 'great fun' to have [Peter] Rybar in Edinburgh next winter 'if it could be managed financially'; thinks he 'would get what he needs'. Tovey could not be responsible for violin technique, but thinks that 'timely occasional visits to [Carl] Flesch', who played in Edinburgh yesterday 'most gloriously', ought to be enough. Tired out by the effort of writing another letter to the "Times" about Eugenie Schumann's protest (about the appearance of her father's last concerto), though at least there is now no 'spookwhenyou'rspookentology' [a reference to the involvement of a séance in the discovery of the concerto] to deal with. In a postscript, Tovey notes that his students are 'now numerous & really musical', and that things are in general better than in Johannes [Röntgen]'s time; thinks Rybar would benefit from the students as well as help them.
The Pantiles, Englefield Green, Surrey. - Asks Trevelyan if he could do Eugenie Schumann, and thereby her, a favour by letting her know quickly what he thinks of Marie Busch as a translator from German into English. She is telling Miss Schumann that from what little she herself saw of her, Miss Busch knew both German languages well, but would appreciate a few lines from Trevelyan. Hopes the Trevelyans, including Julian are very well. Asks in a postscript that her question be kept a secret, as Miss Schumann requested.