Hotel de la Poste, Bruxelles. - Is writing between courses at lunch after a morning at the gallery; may go to the Palais Arenburg to see the pictures, and perhaps to the Wiertz [Museum]. If the weather is fine tomorrow, may go to Waterloo and be 'as patriotic and Brittish [sic] and military' as he likes. Finds Brussels to be a nice town with much to see and much going on, so he is 'nearly compensated' for their separation; fewer 'really good pictures' than he remembered, but the Metzys was 'magnificent', as were several other Flemish paintings. Went last night to see Massenet's "Cendrillon", but was not impressed and left before the end. Will try a play tonight, then tomorrow thinks he will attend a Beethoven recital by [Frederic] Lamond; saw him as a boy but has forgotten all about him. Has not yet handed in the parcel and note from her uncle, but will do. Plans to return on Thursday. Has written to his mother 'telling her some more home-truths' about Bessie; must send her the photo when he gets back. Dreamed of Bessie last night; cannot remember details, but was glad to do so on their first separation since they 'loved one another openly'. Wishes it was possible to 'kiss at a distance', as the telephone allows one to speak at a distance; writes a poem over the part of the paper he has kissed which urges her to kiss it in her turn.
Hotel de la Poste, Bruxelles. - Bessie's letter is much the 'best and nicest and loveliest' - though not 'lovingest' - of their 'first real love-letters'. Glad that she is making progress with Plato; the introduction may help, though 'in some most important directions Jowitt [sic: Benjamin Jowett'] does not know much about it'. Went to a bad French play which was even worse than the opera [Massenet's "Cendrillon"]. Tonight is going to hear [Frederic] Lamond whom his mother took him to see when he was about twelve, his first classical concert, and he was 'entranced', particularly by the Liszt; he kept 'leaning forward with his face in his hands, like [his] brother George' and his mother was worried people would be shocked by his 'bad behaviour'. Lamond's programme is all Beethoven this evening. Spent the morning reading [Thomas Sturge] Moore's "Danaë" at the gallery, opposite 'the magnificent Metsys of the life of Anna'; detects a 'sort of affinity between Moore and the Flemmish [sic] people'; certainly neither of them are classical. Wants Bessie to read "Danaë", which is 'wonderful, though wayward and awkward in places'. Nearly went to a music-hall last night as they are meant to be excellent here; would have been better than the 'awful play'. Has not been 'enslaved' by a 'Belgian or Gallic sorceress'; will take Bessie to a music-hall one day to see the 'only living art', in England at least. Teases her about her ability to fold sheets. Will reach the Hague at about eleven, and change and wash before lunch. If her letter was 'foolish', it was only in the 'good sense' Plato talks of; quotes [William] Blake.