Northlands, Englefield Green, Surrey. - Is still 'very vague and confused about Dutch money'; asks Bessie if she has calculated Augustin's bill correctly; it is 'a rather disappointingly large amount' but the success of the concerts 'helps to keep the artist in Donald [Tovey] alive. Wishes she could hear of Fritz Busch's safety: would be best if he could be '"safely wounded" as the mothers say'. Donald is at Dyffryn Rectory [to see his aunt, Anna Walter Thomas?] and returns to Edinburgh on Saturday. Asks Bessie to ask Donald to let her have any notices of his concerts which might have been contained in the letters she forwarded to him today; was very grateful for the one Bessie sent her which seems 'quite remarkably good and comprehending'. Donald is playing very well, but was 'extremely nervous' for the Chopin recital, partly as the piano was so bad. She was away for Christmas with her 'very depressed brother [Henry] and his wife' and is now trying to deal with work.
Northlands, Englefield Green, Surrey. - Gives her address at North Queens Ferry, Fife, where she is going tomorrow morning; asks if Bessie could let her know that D. [Donald Tovey] is all right again. Plans to go from there on Sunday 24th to see Lord Lamington, then will be in London with Miss [Eliza?] Wallace or at Northlands; has to look after her brother [Henry?]'s children so must return south. Is 'easily shaken these days' and would be glad to hear all is well. Hopes Donald got his music in good time.
Northlands, Englefield Green, Surrey. - Originally enclosing [?] letters which are 'reassuring though very maddening'. One of 'the "poky prigs" is Sir Walter Parratt' who passed the offer to go to Vienna on to Donald [Tovey]'. Assures Bessie that, if she think's [Pablo] Casals' leter was cold then Donald's was 'icy in its egotism and priggishness and tactlessness'. If Casals does not give concerts in London on 'those very dates' [previously agreed for performances with Donald] it will be 'a miracle of generosity'; she agrees with Willy Strecker that Casals is the 'most aggrieved party', which she could prove from Donald's own letter to her; it is 'disgraceful that he should use such foul language of them [Casals and Suggia] now'. Knows what trouble Casals took to interest [Franz] Schalk in Donald. Wants Donald to be a good man, which does not simply consist in obeying the seventh commandment [do not commit adultery]; lists the virtues which he can lack: 'Industry, humility, loyalty, candour...' Pities Casals. Her brother [Henry] told her 'some of the lies Guilhermina [Suggia] had concocted about Donald'; cannot help admiring 'that young woman's invention'. In October, Donald 'nearly threw a dinner plate' at her and 'dashed out of the house' when she said something in Suggia's conduct when they were in Paris needed explaining. Is sorry and very disappointed about the concerts, as is Mr Strecker; does not know what is to be done. As Fanny Davies and 'every sensible person' said, the 'only answer to the esclandre [scandal]' was to keep to the Chelsea Concerts programme, and it is Donald alone who made that impossible. He will have to lose money and reputation this year. Is relieved he seems better; fancy him having 'two terrific quarrels in one year', she herself has never had one on her own account.
Northlands, Englefield Green, Surrey. - Thanks Bessie for all her 'kind words'; thinks she had better read the enclosure, which is 'practically' what she has written to Donald [Tovey] then burn it. Donald must be 'very hardworking and very humble and courteous' if she is to continue 'making a home for him'. This business [the quarrel with Pablo Casals] shows him to have been 'a self righteous arrogant goose' and 'that young woman' [Guilhermina Suggia] has 'sized him up'. Donald writes 'gaily' that she should write and ask Enesco to find another cellist. Wishes 'he had run away with Guilhermina - she might have prevented such follies and made him work'. Intends to ignore the existence of the concerts, though has already given fifty pounds towards them. Is sorry for Willy Strecker. Thinks Donald's letter to Casals 'odious'; told her brother he should never have let Donald send it; he agrees and was amazed at 'the moderation and dignity of Casals' reply'. Donald should have left the 'London gossip' alone, which would have denied Guilhermina the opportunity of 'poring out all her amusing venom'. Casals denied to her that he had accused Donald of anything other of being 'too assiduous in his attentions'; she is very sorry for him. Wrote and telegraphed Donald warning against his friendship with Guilhermina and urging him to come home to see his sick father. Told Henry [her brother] that he was 'the fourth Oxford man to have been a fool about this business'. Is very worried about Donald as these 'bouts of loss of self control' are becoming more frequent and more violent; the 'Speyer business' was bad enough. He needs to work hard, and 'earn his Vienna ticket now by two articles in the Times'. Thanks Bessie about Christmas; Donald says he ought to go and see his aunt in Wales. In a postscript written after she has read Bessie's letter again tells her not to say 'how well in health and sane' Donald is since the 'only excuse for his behaviour is that he is ill, which makes him 'just like his father'. Has just received 'another horrible letter from Donald', enclosing Hugh Godley's letter. Godley 'wished Donald to break with Casals' and wishes him to break with her. Is telling everyone who asks that Donald's health alarms her. Her brother agrees it was very wrong of him to go to Vendrell after 'the Vienna episode', which she herself had not known of.
Northlands, Englefield Green, Surrey. - Their 'little Peggie' [her brother's daughter] died this morning; perhaps Donald [Tovey] has telegraphed. Thanks Bessie for her care of him; he has returned 'just himself' and she now believes he will finish 'his great work' ["The Bride of Dionysus"?]. Great woe about Peggie's death. Donald is just starting for Aachen; they follow in a few days.
Northlands, Englefield Green, Surrey. - Is very sorry and so will D. [Donald Tovey] be; he plays Chopin beautifully. Suggests Bessie comes when she is inviting [Louis] Fleury and a string quartet to play Donald's quartet in D and flute variations, probably on the 18th; hopes she will be able to stay the night, and bring Julian and his nurse. Donald did also 'mutter something vague about the Röntgens'; hopes they will see them. Donald is away; she is starting to think of summer plans. Will have to spend at least a short spell at Nauheim, then see what she can do for her brother [Henry] his wife and Archie. Donald will be in Scotland most of August; she wonders whether Bessie could host him for about a fortnight at the end of August as she is still anxious about him and happiest when he is with friends she can trust to look after him, but does not know his plans. The playing of the string quartets and flue variations is to let the 'Streckers - Père et Fils [Ludwig and Willy?] hear them'; thinks they cannot fail to be impressed, which is very important. Will write to Mrs Röntgen.
Northlands, Englefield Green, Surrey. - Is writing in case Donald [Tovey] has not done so to say that he cannot now come to the Trevelyans; he is going to Wales today to see his 'delightful Aunt [Anna Walter Thomas], then will travel with Sophie Weisse to Germany where he will see [Fritz] Steinbach at Cologne and the Buschs [Adolf and Fritz] at Mainz before playing in Vienna on 8 Jan. Hopes to see him for Christmas at Marburg, where she will be with Henry (her brother) and his family for 'their sad holiday [after the death earlier in the year of Henry's daughter Peggie?]'. Thinks the travelling is good for Donald; he is 'already better', working on a concerto grosso for string orchestra with 'the opera ["The Bride of Dionysus"] in the background, and his playing is 'in perfect order; he played the [Beethoven] Waldstein Sonata 'superbly' last night. Hopes they will both return by 15 Jan; hopes the Trevelyans will then come and spend a night or two with them, when Lady Hely Hutchinson and her children Natalie and Victor will be staying. They have just had Molly and Desmond MacCarthy there, whom she 'love[s] very much'. Will send 'another music picture book' for Julian.