Northlands, Englefield Green, Surrey. - Apologises for not writing sooner to thank Bessie for her kindness to Donald [Tovey]; hopes she has heard from him in the meantime. She is still in 'agony' about his symphony; there is an 'obstinate place in the "Second Subject"' and she would find it very interesting to see him 'wrestling with it' if she were not so worried about the date; he has gone off cheerfully to Aachen again 'with the fragment of Symphony in his hand'. They had an 'enchanting little visit to [George] Henschel at Aviemore'; encourages Bessie to come to the concert at Northlands on 23 October when Henschel is singing. Has had a 'rather heartshaking correspondence with Guilhermina Suggia' who says that she and [Pablo] Casals have parted on good terms; she was in England all August and September, and very much wanted to come to Northlands but 'that could not be', though she has not lost her 'tenderness and anxiety for her'. Told Suggia plainly that 'Donald is ready for friendship with Casals' and her 'lies and the way in which she broke up the friendship between the two men' means that 'Donald is quite unapproachable for her'. Wishes very much she had not let the matter be 'taken out of her hands' as she did.
Haus Schellenberg, Marburg a[n] d[er] Lahn. - Thanks Bessie for her letter; Donald [Tovey] is often hard to live with, but it is worse to be apart from him. Both a 'mercy and a wonder' that she does not 'thoroughly hate Ariadne ["The Bride of Dionysus"] and all her family', the Trevelyans included. Has to hide all anxiety about Donald's symphony; hopes it will all 'suddenly go down on paper' but dreads 'the overstrain' and the 'horrible consequences... the meddling friends and all the wretchedness we have had before' if it does not; still six weeks for it to be written. Has to go to Berlin on Friday, and gives her address there; intends to leave on Sunday in a sleeping car and travel via Flushing [Vlissingen] to '"arrive with God" as Frau Schumann telegraphed to Chappell' at Victoria Sation at 7.34. Would very much like to be met by Donald, and asks Bessie to tell him.
Haus Schellenberg, Marburg a[n] d[er] Lahn. - Thanks Bessie for her letter, and is glad to think of Donald [Tovey] being with her; though really the Trevelyans 'ought all to be staying with him'. Is very anxious about the Symphony, which Donald does not mention; if he does not get it finished there will be 'a great chilling' of the interest of everyone who is looking forward to it, and the 'brain pressure on Donald' if he does not finish till the last minute is almost equally worrying. Also worried about his 'chase after the hedge blackberries' as he knows they are bad for him. Will be very glad to see him again, and [George] Henschel is looking forward to his arrival 'enormously'; Donald can stay on if it suits his work after she leaves. Hopes to be in England on the 16th or 17th.
Hôtel Bellevue. Bad Nauheim, Hesse. - Asks Bessie to let her know that Donald [Tovey] has arrived at the Shiffolds and how he is; has had 'a sentence or two from him most days' but supposes she will always feel 'a long torment' at being a long distance from him. Has had a tonic for his 'gouty eczema' sent for him; he has promised to 'let a good doctor take him in hand again' when she gets back. Is worried he may be feeling 'hustled over his Symphony' since he is always 'incurably optimistic' about how long things will take him; he expected to have it done by now and to 'completely finish Ariadne ["The Bride of Dionysus"] by the end of next month'; but she is 'quite happy with his output this year'. Wishes he took a 'real jovial holiday' sometimes, but perhaps his concert tour of Germany will provide that. Was very disappointed about Augustin; had discussed it with [George?] Henschel and was planning to commission Augustin to arrange a concert tour for Donald this winter, but Donald insisted 'it was all being arranged' and 'lo there is nothing!'. It matters less, though, as Willy Strecker's father is coming on Sunday and she thinks they will organise something for 1914-1915 at least. Asks Bessie to tell her what Donald says about the Borsdorf concert plan, which 'sounded very promising and jolly'; she is prepared to back it financially and hopes others will too; it is what should have been done with the Chelsea concerts. Also asks if Donald can be kept from 'sweet things and fruit in any form, cooked or raw'. Hopes Bessie is less tired than when she saw her last; complains about the weather.
10 Prinse[gracht], the Hague; addressed to Bob at The Mill House, Westcott, Dorking, Surrey. - Explains why she feels her days of 'pure musical enjoyment' are probably over and her feelings about this; knows he would like her to find musical interests in England, and she will try, but it is unlikely to be the same and she will have to go 'miles out of her way' to find it; would certainly like him to be there with her if she does find anything like the same milieu. Has had a kind letter from Bob's mother sending the programme for the concert; knows the Schubert quartet well; asks if Bob also heart the Beethoven serenade string trio. Very glad he feels he is understanding German more easily now; was disappointed when he declared on one of his first nights at Ede that nothing would every make him learn it, though he soon pleased her by offering to help Bramine to wash up the tea things. Her cold is gone: Emser pastilles are 'an excellent thing'. Has been having 'endless' conversations with her uncle about the wedding; this morning she was managing to keep her patience with his 'little objections and obstacles' but her aunt nearly lost hers. The conclusion is that Bob should write to the British consul at Rotterdam, Henry Turing, asking if he will be able to be present at the civil ceremony in the Stadhuis; he should send the letter through Sir Henry Howard, who has kindly written to Bob, and explain their plans to him; Thursday of Whit week is the best day. They should not ask the consul to be a witness, as her uncle wished, since then he would have to be invited to the breakfast and would be the only stranger there. Has been thinking about her wedding dress: looking at white silks, sketching out designs including a Watteau pleat as she loves these, and talking to her dressmaker. Funny that Bob has also been thinking about his clothes; would recommend high trousers and a frock coat, in a blueish rather than yellowish grey. Dutch men wear evening dress when they are married, but since Bob is an Englishman she thinks he should wear his frock coat. Asks whether it is in good condition; her aunt was saying yesterday that she was looking forward to seeing him 'well-dressed & in neat clothes... [for] the first time!'; tells him to bring some nice suits over too for other occasions. Haverschmidt, who wrote under the name of Piet Paaltjens, is the Dutch poet Bob asked about. Could not find the Heine song Bob tells her about; a Heine song she has copied out originally enclosed in turn. Went to an 'wonderful' concert last night by George Henschel and his wife [Lilian Bailey]; he sang the Schubert "Gruppe aus dem Tartarus", which [Thomas Sturge? or George?] Moore sang in Cambridge. Is very pleased with the silk she has chosen, which she describes. Tells Bob to enjoy himself at Holman Hunt's
Inscribed to H. M. Butler from Henschel, with line of music and words to "Lord, let us strive and be victorious."