18 Buccleuch Place, Edinburgh, At the Sign of the Edinburgh Review. - The only thing in her mind, apart from the fear of John [Wellcome Tovey]'s being sent to France 'instead of attending to innumerate lorries in Dunfermline', is Donald [Tovey]'s illness: he is 'very ill' and two days ago his death seemed inevitable. However, though he now mostly sleeps, it is an 'easier sleep' and he is taking some food and very occasionally making a 'Tovey joke'. Thanks Bessie very much for the young nurse [Jean Monks] she sent, who is clever, 'as it were sure footed', and harm. She herself minds very much being old; '[s]o much harm' has come to Donald as he has grown older, like 'the awful tragedy with his hands'; and now there is the 'incredible war'. Last night there was a 'monstrous travesty' in Edinburgh, when 'brutes' set upon the many Italian ice cream sellers in Edinburgh, 'wrecked their little shops and neat barrows and ill used the people'.
18 Buccleuch Place, Edinburgh, At the Sign of the Edinburgh Review. - Finds it increasingly hard to write about Donald [Tovey]'s death, and her 'sense of wrong' grows increasingly bitter. Was 'hardly ever alone with him', except when people came to see Lady Tovey; she found him once, near the end, 'alone with [Beethoven's] Missa Solemnis on his lap - weeping', looking at his hands and hoping that they would sing it for him at Edinburgh. He could not hold a pencil, but kept saying that he had 'a Violin Concerto quite ready in his head'; the 'dear boys', Robert Bruce and another, tried to take it down for him but it was impossible. On his last day, she aw him for a short time on the morning of his last day, but could not return until the evening since as usual Lady Tovey slept from two till five in his bedroom; that morning when she asked him what she should bring him he replied 'quite clearly and distinctly: "Something wonderful and beautiful". When she returned in the evening, they told her he had died. Asks if Bessie knows where young Nurse Monks is, since she would very much like to know exactly what Donald's death was like. The copy of the "Missa Solemnis" [by Beethoven? see 8/132] was one she gave him when he was thirteen. Funeral service in St Giles 'very beautiful and moving', and the church was crowded. Is agonised to think of 'these desolate years' in which she 'saw the inevitable ruin coming and could do nothing... to try and save him'. One of Donald's colleagues, the Professor of Astrophysics [William Greaves?] said that he 'could have filled a chair of astronomy perfectly'. She got Frank Newall to procure a telescope for Donald [as a boy]; wishes she had it 'in some worthy place', but unfortunately it is at Hedenham.
39 Royal Terrace, Edinburgh 7. - Has burnt Bessie's letter: was very kind of her to write. Sir Donald [Tovey] is 'terribly ill', though he has improved slightly over the last couple of days; has become rather rapidly worse in the six weeks she has been here. He sleeps or is drowsy most of the time, but occasionally surprises them 'with a quotation or a witty remark', though he finds it difficult to speak; admires him very much. Miss Weisse is dreadful; 'very soon discovered her jealous and foolish ways'; is very sorry for Lady Tovey having to deal with her on top of all her other sufferings, but they laugh at her 'which is the only thing to do'; she has 'most wonderful and weird ideas about nursing'. Would love to visit when she comes south; always remember the Shiffolds 'and its cherry trees', which must have been lovely this year as they were in Pattendale.
39 Royal Terrace, Edinburgh 7. - Describes 'exactly what happened on the day Sir Donald [Tovey's] died' since Miss Weisse's story is not correct: fetched her in a taxi at 9 am; at 1 pm, advised her not to go home as it was not obvious how long Sir Donald would live and she didn't want her 'to have the opportunity of saying that [they] had sent her away'; she had lunch by his bed until 3.15pm when she left, Lady Tovey having been 'seated in another chair but not resting'. Sir Donald 'grew worse at 6.45 pm and died at 7.30 pm'; Jean Monks did not fetch Miss Weisse as she 'would have been troublesome, Lady Tovey did not want her & she had left of her own accord'; telephoned her after Sir Donald's death but she had already left and soon arrived; she saw him then the housekeeper took her home. Sir Donald 'hadn't spoken at all on Wednesday'. Asks whether she should write to Miss Weisse, or whether Bessie will. Lady Tovey is 'really very wonderful, but is very stiff [from arthritis]'; Jean Monks thinks she will go south after settling affairs here. Saw Miss Weisse yesterday and could go again but doesn't much want to.
Hedenham Lodge, Bungay, Suffolk. - Bessie must be anxious - hopes she has better news soon. Donald 'quite well physically, but does not want to do anything': difficult to know what to do. Is looking for 'a young woman to drive... and do odd jobs for me' since the current girl is ill and will leave as soon as she can. Will also be looking for a nurse in about January, as their nurse is Australian and wants to go home; has lost the address of the person Bessie mentioned [Jean Monks?] when the Toveys were in the Westminster [Hospital]. They sometimes talk of going to Edinburgh just after Christmas, but she doesn't think they can get there. Donald 'sways all over the place when he is walking': she thinks they should stay in Suffolk.
Hedenham Lodge, Bungay, Suffolk. - Has written to Miss Monks but received no answer; asks if Bessie could write to find out what she is doing. Nurse Jones will see them to Edinburgh, and probably stay till the middle of February. Asks if Bessie knows of any one else in the event that Miss Monks is engaged. Donald has not been so well for the last few days.
39 Royal Terrace, Edinburgh, 7. - The Toveys returned about ten days ago, helped by Clara's brother and their nurse; they are living on the ground floor as Donald cannot manage the stairs. He can only give chamber music lessons and enjoys this: 'it still seems to give him a feeling of mastery'. He is giving them at home, and they are arranging for as many chamber music combinations to come and play for him. Thinks he has improved slightly since the return, but he varies a great deal. She herself has not been laid up in bed but has not been well at all; thinks she is now rather better. They still have their Australian nurse, but are not sure how long she will stay; is writing to Miss Monks again as she 'sounded rather unsettled'; asks if Bessie knows of anyone else. Kind remembrances to Dr Bluth.
39 Royal Terrace, Edinburgh, 7. - Their current nurse is Australian, and wants to go home; a boat under convoy leaves at the end of the month, which is much sooner than Clara expected; she has been writing to Miss Monks, who cannot come until the end of April or May, so asks if Bessie knows of someone to 'bridge the gap'. Asks if Bessie thinks Miss Monks will like them, and whether she is 'active and fairly strong' as Donald cannot walk without help. He 'overdid things' when they first returned, is a little 'clearer in his mind' but not much improved otherwise.
Edinburgh. - Very sorry to hear of the death of Bessie's sister [Abrahamina Röntgen]: hopes she was not long ill. Is still in Edinburgh, and expects to be for some time since there are soldiers in Hedenham Lodge. Nurse Monks is nursing for the Air Force; she wrote from Reading but expected to be moved. Clara misses her very much: has 'quite a nice young woman' to help her, but she is not nearly as good as Nurse Monks. Her brother is still with her, which she is glad of as she would not like him to be at Kew. John [Tovey] is 'very busy carting munitions': was in camp in Worcestershire, but has moved into billets for the winter. Molly Grierson is carrying on the work of the Chair of Music: wishes they would appoint her Professor, as it will not be easy to find someone 'so suited all round for both the degree work and the Orchestra'. Believes there is an intention to make no appointment until the end of the war, but hears Professor [Oliffe Legh?] Richmond is looking for someone and fears he will 'fix on some quite impossible person'; the Court are responsible for the appointment but she does not think the members knowledgeable about Music. Is sorry about Mrs [Florence] Barger; hopes her house is not 'damaged past repair'. Miss Weisse still in Edinburgh: supposes she thinks it safer than Knap Hill or prefers it. Molly Grierson has started Reid Concerts with 'what can be collected of the orchestra', fortnightly on Saturday afternoons; she is also continuing the Historical Concerts. Clara gets around very little as the wet weather does not suit her, and cannot think of travelling. Is glad Bessie's house is 'still whole', as many of her friends in the South 'seem to have no glass in their windows' which cannot be easy in this weather.