Train near Carlisle. - Cost her 'a great deal to leave [Donald Tovey] in Ireland yesterday' and cannot rid herself of 'apprehension while he is in this discouraged and suffering condition'; he has been shocked to find that there is a 'dickeFreundshaft' [great friendship] between Mrs [Mary] Berenson and both Kellys; 'that woman' is a real fraud as 'Miss Kelly would hate anything not entirely clean and right when she saw it'. Nothing could be better for Donald than to spend time with Robert Trevelyan and make music with Bessie; unfortunately he is probably not well enough to finish off the Encyclopædia [Britannica], though perhaps he could get it done in the mornings then make music in the afternoons. Asks Bessie to send him on to Mrs Henry Joachim on Saturday the 22nd. Also asks if Bessie can send a telegraph when Donald reaches her. Still in a nervous state and should have stayed longer at Nauheim; had to go to Ireland this time but does not think she will be able to do so again.
Bayreuth, bei Frau Roder, Schillerstrasse 12. - Thanks Bessie for her care of her dear 'great man' [Donald Tovey]. Bayreuth is 'very splendid and fine' with 'only a moderate amount of vulgarity'; Mr and Miss Kelly have just visited, both saying they enjoyed [Robert Trevelyan's] "Sisyphus" very much, and she agrees. Is not going to the opera much as she is 'lame and headachy'. On Sunday or Monday she is going to stay with her friend Marie Remy at Wenigerode. Hopes all are well and Ariadne ["The Bride of Dionysus"] 'swimming along'. Asks what the Oxford Professor was called. Hopes Donald saw Mrs Speyer.
Northlands, Englefield Green, Surrey. - Donald [Tovey]'s bad health has delayed his stay with the Trevelyans; she was with him in London with their 'very dear friends the Wallaces in their terrible bereavement' [the death of Emily Wallace] who kept saying how tired he looked; she got him to bed, and brought him to Northlands yesterday in a motorcar. He has bad tonsillitis, but is recovering, and when she is sure he is well and safe for Bessie and the baby [Julian] he will come; thinks this will be Monday at the latest. Donald is bad at taking care of himself in many ways. Asks Bessie if she can 'bemuttern' [mother] him a little, by making sure he takes his Sanatogen and another medicine. Is rather anxious about the Ariadne ["The Bride of Dionysus"] work after the busy spring and summer he has had. Has been reading some of his "Encyclopædia [Britannica]" articles, which are 'quite glorious both in matter and style'; his composition will be even more so and she wishes it good luck. Discusses his luggage; asks Bessie to get him to change when he is hot, and hopes he pays his laundry bills. Asks how long he is to stay; believes he is going to Mrs [Augusta] Freshfield around the 26th. The thought of going to Nauheim is 'dismal' to her. Donald in good spirits as he has been well all year, and is 'good friends with Miss Kelly'; does not think her brother [Frederick] can 'ever make him nervous again'. Very glad to hear Julian thrives. Asks Bessie to let he know how Donald does. A postscript notes that there will be some lotion and Listerine for Donald's bedroom; another postscript written on 12 August says Donald is much better and will be with the Trevelyans on Monday; his two boxes are at the station already.
Northlands, Englefield Green, Surrey. - Is going to Holland tonight for a few days holiday. Hopes that Donald [Tovey], who has been in Germany for a while, will also be in Amsterdam. Asks if Bessie knows how the opera ["The Bride of Dionysus"] is getting on: gets more anxious as 'half year follows half year and there is nothing to show for it'. Almost impossible to know what she should do; though a 'struggle for existence' may perhaps have made him do more of the work he is 'best fitted to do', more likely it 'would have destroyed him'. Has no doubt of Donald's 'real greatness as an artist' and would do 'everything in the world that is good for him to back him up'. He is playing and practising very well. Sees Donald very little when he is here, and he cannot help knowing she minds 'the apparent loss of these five precious years very much'. Thinks he is seeing a good deal of Miss Kelly at the moment, and has written some songs for her; wishes 'a lovely beautiful planet could be created to wish the Kellys both [Mary Kelly and her brother Frederick Septimus]', though she likes the little she has seen of Miss Kelly, and if only she were poor 'and would marry him and help on his work' would be 'the happiest Schwiegermamma [mother-in-law] possible'. Hopes to see the Röntgens in Amsterdam; is 'much depressed' after a hard term and bad cold, and hopes her week's holiday will do her good. A postscript asks if it is 'generally known' that Donald studied and 'practised note for note every single valuable piece' in the piano repertoire.
Brack's Doelen Hotel, Amsterdam. - The Trevelyans must come to Englefield Green when [Julius Engelbert and Abrahamina] Röntgen are in England; they arrive on 7 May, asks if Bessie could look in a Bradshaw [railway guide] to see how they could best travel from London. Hopes that they will all be able to entertain each other, as she will be 'absolutely distracted' by work and they have been incredibly kind and hospitable to her; hopes the Casals [Pablo and Guilhermina Suggia] will be staying too as he is playing on the 10th and 11th. Some of them can stay at the Wheatsheaf at Virginia Water, and they can use the concert room as a sitting room. Wishes the 'new Toveum' was built. Is sorry that she 'wailed' at Bessie about Ariadne ["The Bride of Dionysus", see 8/53] but it is 'almost tragically disquieting'; thinks the 'fearful pull in another direction' [Tovey's feelings for Mary Kelly?] which is 'helping to lame the poor fellow', though he has just written some beautiful songs. Will have no peace until the opera is totally finished, and at least Tovey's symphony written, but does not know when that will be, while Donald lets his career slip away. He should have gone on writing for the "Times" and done some teaching. Is however no longer anxious about his playing. The Arányis will probably also be at Northlands, so there will be a real 'Musikfest'. Regrets that she has not been to the Hague: as it is she has done more than suits her, but Bessie's kind Schwager [brother-in-law: Julius Röntgen] played her the Beethoven G major concerto with Donald 'as orchestra'. Donald is staying to hear Rontgen's new symphony and is staying with them; she is kindly asked to meals, and was taken yesterday to Volendam, which was not what she planned when she came out with her 'faithful "Annie"' [her maid]. Is finding Amsterdam very picturesque and interesting, though it seems 'surprisingly new'. Hopes her 'much admired Julian' is well.