120 Maida Vale, W. - Asks whether Trevelyan thought he had 'forgotten all about the Centaurs and the Amazons', or had no mannners because he did not write with thanks for "[The Bride of] Dionysus". Was much 'preoccupied', but has now 'broken the back of [Samuel] Butler's notebooks' and is reading through the typescript of the book ["The Note-Books of Samuel Butler"]. Feels 'rather exhausted' as the editing has been so 'long and troublesome', and he does not know how much he will have to redo. Has however read Sturge Moore's two poems and returns them; they 'contain many fine things' but are not really in 'his line' and he finds them 'a little dull'. The piece Desmond [MacCarthy] showed him and sent to the "New Quarterly", about 'a man in the Bible who got into difficulties with his dramatic gods' was 'duller'. "Dionysus" is his next job, but he may be distracted by organisation for the fifth Erewhon Dinner: Edmund Gosse has fixed the date for 12 July, and cards are being printed. Hopes that Trevelyan will come. Turned sixty-one the other day and cannot do as much as he used to, so the quantity of correspondence associated with the dinner will be tiring. Looking forward to going to Sicily the day afterwards. Went to Paris at Easter; then to Scotland at Whitsun, where he went fishing for the first time and thinks he hooked a fish though 'he wriggled off before I could get him into the boat'. Thanks Trevelyan for sending the book; hopes [Donald Tovey's] music will please him, and that the opera will 'be a great success & cause a furore'. His sister has gone to Norway for a month's holiday. Asks whether Trevelyan has sent the names of people who want to 'become Erewhonians'.
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.
Hogarth House, Richmond. - Thanks Bob for the 'correction in N.W'; thinks he is right and will alter it; is 'altering Op 112 to 111 [in the American edition of "The Voyage Out"], the 'goats certainly are mysterious and she thinks something 'must have dropped out', but does not 'see what to do with them now'. Leonard bought Bob's "The Death of Man" at Unwin's yesterday; it looks 'very well printed and bound'. Hopes Bob will 'take to prose', though this does not mean abandoning poetry; likes "Wind", the only poem in the new book which she has read yet, 'very much'; also if Bob can keep Desmond [MacCarthy] 'supplied' he may 'keep his spirits up': thinks Desmond 'is already a little burdened' since Jack Squire has now 'left the whole thing [editing the "New Statesman"] to him. Asks to be remembered to 'Mrs. Trevelyan, whom I dare not call by her Christian name'.
Siena, addressed to Trevelyan at 10 Prinzegracht, The Hague, Ollanda [Holland]. - Will leave on the 27th for Pisa, reach Milan on the 30th and stay three or four days there: Trevelyan must not miss them; he could stay like them at the Hotel et Pension Suisse which is cheap and recommended by Baedeker. Hopes Trevelyan will bring [Desmond MacCarthy]; is glad he has got through 'his trials' so well, their own were 'more protracted'. Siena is 'divine' and they must live there one day.
Harnham, Monument Green, Weybridge. - Is being given the 'N.Q.' [New Quarterly], and finds it splendid. An essay on Poggio [Bracciolini], which MacCarthy encouraged him to send to the United States, has been rejected. Is going to Founder's Feast soon. Thanks Trevelyan about Stokoe, who must have moved. Lady Holroyd (who knows Trevelyan] has called, as has Mrs Barnes. Sends love to [Trevelyan's son] Paul.
Brooks's, St. James's Street, S.W.1; 'as from' Dene House, Boar's Hill, Oxford. - Has enjoyed Bob's "Windfalls" very much: it is 'a really beautiful book, & a joy for ever... the pure essence of you'. Regrets that the edition is so small, and 'rather a waste of Desmond [MacCarthy]'s for once 'selling' notice!'. Disagreed only with Bob counting the sight of a tree-felling amongst his "Pleasures", and wonders how someone who can write about trees as Bob can could feel so; adds that crystals are also straight lines which appear in nature; further to Bob's comment that 'Milton's simile's never forget their illustrative purposes', he suggests that the comparison of the angelic phalanxes to a field of corn at the end of the fourth book of "Paradise Lost" does this when the doubts of the ploughman as to whether the sheaves might 'prove chaff' could 'imply in Gabriel a want of confidence in his troops'. Has just left Cambridge, and is going next Saturday to live for a while at the Boar's Hill address he gives. Notes in a postscript that he has not yet seen [Bob's translation of Virgil's "Eclogues and] Georgics" announced.
3 Hare Court, Inner Temple, London E.C. - Will leave on the 12th, arriving some time in the morning of the 13th; will go on to Italy afterwards; his friend [Desmond] MacCarthy may join him at the Hague around the end of November and travel with him. Bessie seems to have been 'successful and tactful' and he will try to be as well. Intends to make their Vondel 'pretext a real one'; wants her to translate some of the plays besides "Lucifer", so that he is reading good plays (useful since he is trying to write them himself) and 'laying the foundations' for an attempt to learn Dutch; will get a grammar and dictionary, and asks her to get him a cheap edition of Vondel. Asks if there is anything she would like to learn in recompense, such as Latin grammar. Asks what the 'examination [he] may have to sustain' from her uncle is likely to cover: he can give reasons for wanting to study Vondel,. Discussion of hotels. Appreciates her aunt's 'rapier thrust of irony'; will certainly accompany them on walks whenever Bessie wishes. Asks if she would like him to bring her any books. Discussion of the war: still thinks it is a 'great mistake' on the part of the British, though doubts whether it would be good 'for themselves or for any one else' if the Boers were to win, which he does not think at all likely. Is angry with the Government and the country, but does not think it right to accuse the 'nation as a whole of wickedness and hypocrisy' as is being done on the continent; thinks the Boers were not giving British subjects a 'proper government or the proper securities for justice'; negotiations were not carried out properly, but does not think most of the country, or the Government (except for Chamberlain) actually want or wanted war. Thinks Bessie is probably right about the translation of 'du vulgaire' [in Ronsard's poem]. Bessie must not think that she is keeping him from work; expects to do little until he goes to Italy 'refreshed and invigorated' after seeing her. Thinks the Frys have changed their plans, but hopes to see them in Italy for a few days wherever they are.
Contains a poem, "King's, Cambridge", by R. G. Bosanquet; "Garrick and the Histrionic Temperament" by Desmond MacCarthy; poems, "Lines written after re-reading Housman's "The name and nature of Poetry" and "Cry of the Gentle", by Geoffrey Eley; "2. Ancestor Worship" by Sarah Shorey Gill, with a note at the head to her grand-daughter Polly"; poem, '"Mosses' Wood, Leith Hill", by V. S. Wainwright; poem, "Escape", by Clifford Dyment; poem, "A Reaper - To The Winds" (a translation from Joachim du Bellay); poem, "On the Rejection of Some Lines on Liberty", by Jacob Hornstein.
Garden Corner, West Road, Cambridge. - Thanks Bob for his 'magnificent volume' [his "Collected Works"]: yesterday read over 'old favourites' for 'several hours', including "Cheiron", which Bob dedicated to him. Is very glad the collection has been published, and will be continued. Desmond [MacCarthy]'s review in the "S[unday] Times" was 'very pleasant'; agrees that Bob's later work is best.
98 Grenfell Road, Maidenhead, Berks. - Knows that after the publication of Trevelyan's book ["Windfalls"] and the praise by Desmond MacCarthy in the "Sunday Times" he must be so "inundated with thanks and appreciation" that there will be scant space for her 'little poor words', but wanted to let him know of her appreciation. Lists some of her favourite pieces, including the appreciation of [Robert] Browning and childhood reminiscences. Would much appreciate a few lines from him in reply. Asks him to excuse her handwriting; after an accident a few years ago she is unable to walk. Hopes he is well in 'these so difficult days'.
W[est] H[ackhurst]. - Thanks Trevelyan for his Christmas present of poems, and for yesterday afternoon [a poetry reading?]. The epistle to Desmond [MacCarthy] was a lovely start; good to get in Moses ["Moses and the Shepherd"] and Goldie [Dickinson] too. Dickinson's Faust translation was looked for last year by May Dickinson, at Robert Nicholl's [Robert Nichols'?] wish; no trace of it was found, and it is either with Miss Stawell's executor or has been destroyed. Gives address of George Thomson's hospital, with suggestions of how best to get there.
1 Kildare G[ar]d[e]ns W2. - Thanks for the book of poems ["From the Shiffolds"], which he found at his father's house last week. Good to hear the 'praises sung' of Trevelyan's woodlands; remembers with 'elation' their visit to the Shiffolds one spring or early summer; also still 'spell[s] out' his Virgil, though he often 'neglect[s]' his contemporaries' verse. He and his wife took their children to Dorset after Christmas, and were 'allowed to leave them there this weekend' to come to London. They have seen 'as many friends and exhibitions as possible', and spent last night with the MacCarthys: Aunt Molly was 'quite well again', and Uncle Desmond 'in very good form'. Went to see [Ronald Duncan's] "This Way to the Tomb" at the Mercury theatre, which was 'awfully good', particularly Britten's music. Hopes that if Trevelyan comes to Oxford he will visit them; they can 'hardly stir from there nowadays' [because of the children].
10 Prinsegracht, The Hague, Holland ['Hotel' written first, and crossed out] :- Does not know whether he told her he was stopping for a few days here on his way to Italy, where he will (as she knows) spend the winter at Ravello. Thinks [Desmond] MacCarthy will join him here soon and they will travel there together. Meanwhile, he is writing something to her that she should tell his father 'and no one else at present. In fact this letter is to Papa as well'. He has told her about his 'Dutch friends, the Hubrechts and the Grandmonts', but not everything he would have liked to: would have liked to have said that he 'had made very great friends with one of them especially, Miss [Elizabeth] Van der Hoeven'. Saw a good deal of her earlier in the year at Taormina when she was staying with the Grandmonts. Says 'after thinking it over carefully from every point of view' he 'told her how fond [he] had become of her' before returning to England from his trip to Holland in September. As he expected, 'and as was only right, she did not give [him] any definite answer' but asked for things to stay as they were for a while, and 'to say nothing to anyone else', which is the 'sole reason' he has not told his parents though he 'came very near' when he last saw them in London.
However, now 'something has come of it; and she does feel quite certain in her mind now that it is the best thing', so he is writing at once to his parents. Of course it is a 'great pity' that they do not know her and her family, but he 'saw no possible way of bringing that about'. She has told her uncle and aunt, her guardians since she is an orphan; since they know him, and have heard about him from the Grandmonts, they 'have no objections, providing of course that [Robert's parents] have none'. It is 'very difficult' for him to explain everything, though he knows 'complete explanation is rather necessary': the 'most important thing perhaps' is that Robert and Miss van der Hoeven 'are both quite certain in [their] own minds' that they wish to get married, and he thinks neither of them 'are really either rash or thoughtless'; in fact they have 'thought and talked it over a great deal', and are sure they are right. She is three or four years younger than he is, and was at school at St Andrews for two years so 'can speak English, if not perfectly, at least nearly so'. It is 'no good' him trying to describe what he thinks 'are her virtues and perfections, at least not in this letter', as he needs to post it in quarter of an hour as he wants them to know as soon as possible; he is sure, however, that his parents would like both her and her relatives, of whom he has told them something. 'Neither they nor she herself are very well off, but she has a little money left her by her parents': believes her father was Dutch ambassador in China, and 'died when she was a girl'; he would therefore 'have to support her' and he is 'at present dependent [on his parents]. These are facts which must be faced' and he admits it is 'serious to marry' before he has made any money; shows the truth of his father saying he should try to 'make some at least as soon as possible'.
Meanwhile they must tell him as soon as they can what they think; knows he has not told them much, but can only say is sure that if they knew her and her family, they would think as he does 'that it would be the best possible thing for both of us'. Has a 'very high idea of her intellect and character, though she is not at all in any way brilliant or showy, except indeed her [violin] playing, which is certainly very remarkable'. George has seen her at Taormina, and will be able to tell them something about her, though Robert asks them not to do so yet, even if they 'think favourably' of the proposed marriage. They have told nobody but her uncle and aunt, who of course say that they must hear from Robert's father either directly or through him before 'anything can be settled'. Knows they must 'both be satisfied' first, and fears 'this letter is too short to do so'; he must finish it quickly to catch the post, but 'will write as soon as possible more fully'. Would be 'a great relief' if they could indicate how the matter seems to them. Does not want them to think he is acting without considering them. Gives Hubrecht's address. Wishes he had more time.
Big Chilling, Warsash, Hampshire. - Much flattered and pleased by Trevelyan's epistle; thinks it even better - in poetical terms, rather than its subject - than the epistle to Desmond [MacCarthy]. The Clarks [Kenneth and Jane] agree with him. Encourages him to write more, suggesting B.B. [Berenson]. Roger [Fry] and Goldie [Dickinson] as 'worthy recipients'. Is enjoying his time as a guest at Chilling: Kenneth is excellent to talk to, and Jane a delightful hostess. Returns to London after paying another visit nearby; hopes Trevelyan will be up at No 11 [St Leonard's Terrace] next week.
20 Marmion Rd, Sefton Park, Liverpool. - Runs through the terms he suggests for the publication of Trevelyan's book by the [Liverpool] University Press. Cannot comment on the terms offered by the Labour Pub[lishing] Co. Would be very glad to have the book, as he wishes to build up a series of good translations, mainly poetry, and Trevelyan's "Oresteia" would be an excellent start. Will get estimates for printing costs for a version including the Greek as well. Thanks for efforts with his own plays ["Four Short Plays"?]; will send a copy to Trevelyan if MacCarthy does not give him one.
Has not written for a few days, but has not had much news; all 'pretty well in spite of the cold'; hopes Bessie has been able to continue her 'short walks'. Went to Leith Hill Place yesterday and had a 'delightful talk' with [Leslie] Hotson, the 'scholar who has so many documents about Shakespeare and Marlow and their contemporaries'; used to know him in the Quakers Mission in France during the First World War, and he was also an old friend of Lascelles and Catherine [Abercrombie]. The Times Lit[erary] Supplement is sending him a book of translations from Greek poetry by F. L. Lucas for review ["Greek Poetry for Everyman"]; 'sure to be interesting', and much of it probably good; will keep him occupied for 'some time'. Thinks he has told Bessie about the dinner the [Apostles'] Society are giving in honour of him, George and Desmond [MacCarthy]; they have promised not to make Bob give a speech, so he can enjoy his dinner. May be his last visit to [George and Janet] at the Lodge [since George's time as Master of Trinity is nearly over]. Will see Humphry and G.E. M[oore]. Hopes to visit Bessie again soon when it is 'not quite so cold'. Wrote to Bertie [Russell] recently. Asks to be remembered to K.T. B[luth] and Theo.
Thanks for Bessie's letter and 'all the enclosures'; will keep some and burn others. Has heard nothing about Joan [Allen], who hoped to visit before she returned to France on 11 Jan, but the telephones here and at Hurtwood House have been out of order; perhaps she may still ring up. Hopes the Brunswick Gardens [nursing] Home will be comfortable, the staff nice, and the room quite. Thanks Bessie for sending back Desmond [MacCarthy's] review and the other letters; Desmond should not have reviewed Bob's Leopardi pamphlet since it was privately printed and not for sale; asks Bessie not to show the book to friends for a few days. All quite well here; Mr Symonds has 'put [them] right for light and heat for the present' and will write soon to Bessie. Will visit when she is settled in the new home. Mr McEvoy seems better after his Christmas holiday. So glad Bessie is recovering, and does not feel the cold too much. Puts Joan's address into a postscript, but does not think Bessie would find her there.
The Dower House, Chalfont St. Peter, Bucks. - Bob's present [his "Collected Works"] has given her more happiness than he can know: it is almost like having Bob himself in the house. Finds poems whenever she looks in it which 'transport [her] back, sometimes 20 years' to the time when Bob first read them to her, and to 'the happy hours' she has spent 'learning from' Bob. His poems are a 'treasure to have always'; looks forward to introducing [her son] Christopher to them. Around a week before Christmas, she re-read the epistle to Desmond [MacCarthy], for which Bob sent her the proofs, and had 'the same delight from the sense of recreation of the past & of a philosophy to meet even the present' as when she first read it. Hopes that the New Year brings him 'personal peace & welfare'.
6 Erskine Hill, Golders Green, N.W.11. - His letter was sent off before he really finished it; has 'much more to say'. Knew the poem about G.L.D. [Goldsworthy Lowes Dickinson] already: it gave him 'intense pleasure' and he is glad to have it 'in permanent form'. Is 'quite delighted' with the poem to Desmond [MacCarthy]. Bob's work is 'solid' and 'well worth enshrining in a solid form''; already had "The Death of Man", "The Pterodamozels" and a couple of others. Is 'working away, but behind the scenes' except for his pamphlet ["The case for an early peace"] and the 'occasional speech'; does not know if it will do any good, but hopes so'.
Adam's Peak Hotel, Hatton. - Glad to get Trevy's letter and the newspaper cutting of [Desmond] MacCarthy's dramatic criticism. A 'breath of Apostolicism' always comes with 'renewed astonishment in this country'. Forster has sent him his book ["Where Angels Fear to Tread"]; thinks he agrees with Trevy about it; it 'amused & at the same time annoyed' him, the tragedy especially annoying him. Is here for a month in the Ceylon mountains as he had a bad case of typhoid in Jaffra; has had to take a month's leave to regain his strength. Is not enjoying Does 'not care for wandering about in second rate hotels' in the society of teaplanters and American tourists; the latter are 'absolutely astonishing; their sole standards of value seem to be money and a curious form of liberty, which consists of forcing every man to learn nothing but how to make money'; always ends up losing his temper with their 'abominable patriotism', as he did with an old gentleman who insisted on explaining 'how disgracefully we ran England and the colonies and how much better America could and did theirs'. Hopes Trevy will let him know when he has published his next book.
Thanks Bob for lending her his 'wholly delightful book' ["Windfalls"]: she has read every essay with 'exquisite pleasure', and re-read many of them. Wishes he could bring out a larger edition so she could give it to all her friends for Christmas; it is a 'calamity' there are so few copies. Much enjoyed reading Desmond MacCarthy's piece on Robert, and heard a 'most appreciative eulogy from Max' [Beerbohm?] whom she saw at the Lynds recently; he 'particularly admired the essay on Poetry and Prose'. Hopes Bob does not mind her lending the book to [Gerd?] Wohlgemuth, who 'also enjoyed every word'; he would have liked to take it on his honeymoon but she would not let him as she was sure Bob would want it back; returns it now. Does indeed like Mrs Wohlgemuth, as she is now, and thinks it is an 'admirable union'; they were both pleased Bob came here to meet them the other day.
25 Wellington Square; addressed to Bibesco at Hotel Meurice, Rue de Rivoli, Paris. - It is 'very kind' of Bibesco to have ordered a copy of her book ["A Pier and a Band"], but also 'lamentable' as she had ordered a copy for him sent to Grosvenor Road [his London home] 'Not to be forwarded', as she 'did not like to thrust it upon [him] in Paris'. Has had some good reviews, and feels a little more cheerful about it than she did on the day it was published. Everyone hopes Bibesco will return soon. Maurice Baring's [illegible] is in England; knows Bibesco asked Desmond for his address.
May try to come to Cambridge before the end of the month. Bessie went abroad on Thursday. C.A. [Clifford Allen] is much better, it will be some time until he and Joan can travel abroad. Joan has chicken-pox and is in quarantine. Does not know about the Waterfields: they have had a lot of paying guests at Aulla, until one, 'a young man from Oxford, suddenly lost his memory and more or less went mad, and is being looked after at Poggio [Gherardo] with nurses'. Expects the Waterfields will go to Aulla soon if the young man can be sent home, but then [their children] Johnny and Kinta will probably come out to visit. Had thought of arranging for the Allens to stay when Clifford is strong enough, but it is unclear when that would be. The Waterfields want him to visit, but he cannot go abroad until the building plans for the Shiffolds are settled, probably by August; may then go to Aulla for a while and on to the Berensons at Vallombrosa. Thinks Julian should write to Lina and ask if he could stay as a paying guest, though he should remember there is not as much space at Aulla as at Poggio, and if the Allens could go they should have preference. Currently here alone, but will go to London on Monday for [Wagner's] "Rheingold with the "Walkyrie [sic]" on Thursday. Desmond [MacCarthy] printed his epistle to him in the May "Life & Letters", but forgot to use the corrected proof, so there are '5 monstrous misprints'. Hopes Julian is finding some time to do some reading. Unsure whether he will be able to come to Cambridge next week. Asks when Julian's exams are, and how he likes Granville Barker's "Shakespeare"
2, Cheyne Gardens. - Sorry not to have seen more of Bob and Bessie yesterday, but had a deadline to finish some work, and then 'Desmond [MacCarthy] made us miss our train'. Would come to visit, 'but for the uncertainty of when our family event here [the forthcoming birth of his and Janet's son Theodore] will be'; thinks he should wait until after that, but asks if they will be at the Shiffolds in July. Goldie [Dickinson]'s speech, as well as [Robin] Mayor's, Bob's, and 'perhaps Bertie [Russell]'s' [at the Apostles dinner] were 'great', especially Mayor's; would 'scarcely have thought Robin had it in him', though there are 'traditions of his great vice-president speech'.
Addressed to Trevelyan c/o Prince Antoine Bibesco, Hotel Meurice, Rue de Rivoli, Paris. - Has not got Trevelyan's address, so hopes Prince Antoine will forward this card. Thanks Trevelyan for the postcard; very kind of him to have ordered her book ["A Pier and a Band"], though she is 'sure it is most unsuitable to read in Paris'. Asks him to tell Francis Birrell, with her love, that 'the great Lytton Strachey' liked her book so her 'price went up in Bloomsbury where the poison of asps lies under tongues'. Asks how Trevelyan is enjoying his work. Postcards always give her 'complete brainstoppage'. Desmond sends his love. Hopes she 'may find [Trevelyan] in the bathroom one day when peace has broken out'.
Lemon Corner. - Is reading and re-reading Bob's poems [in the collected "From the Shiffolds", published by Hogarth Press]; lists some which she remembers well, others seem new to her. Was particularly 'touched' by "Sometimes in Happy Dreams" and the 'sad austerity' of "Dirge". Is taking them 'slowly, as good wine should be sipped, and [is] revived by one or two every morning'. Asks how one can 'envy writers who have work set for them': works of criticism like those by Desmond MacCarthy are 'enjoyed and forgotten', but Bob's poems are 'enjoyed, remembered, and read again and again'. Sends 'fond love' to Bessie, and asks him to tell her Olive is 'so much better' that she hopes to walk over to see her soon.
Included are letters from: Lady Betty Balfour (B/64) Louis de Broglie (B/63), Dorothea, Lady Charnwood (B/62), Lawrence Dundas, Earl of Ronaldshay (B/63), George Stuart Gordon (B/64), Graeme Haldane (B/65), Charles Hardinge, 1st Baron Hardinge of Penshurst (B/64), Gareth R. V. Jones (B/64), Sir Oliver Joseph Lodge (B/62), James William Lowther, 1st Viscount Ullswater (B/65), Victor A. G. R. Lytton, 2nd Earl of Lytton (B/63), Desmond MacCarthy (B/64), Paul E. Paget (B/62), John H. G. Randolph (B/63), Lady Marjorie Sinclair, Baroness Pentland (B/62, B/63 and B/65), Sir Annesley Ashworth Somerville (B/65), Alexandra, Lady Studd (B/64).
West Hackhurst, Abinger Hammer, Dorking. - Is very sorry that Trevelyan does not want to take the part of the Recorder [in the pageant "England's Pleasant Land"]; sympathises with his reluctance to use an open air microphone. Thanks him for his generous offer regarding a substitute. Has been at Dover with his mother and is going there for Whitsun; did not want the Dover flat again and cannot really afford it, but it helps solve 'a muddle made by someone else'. Has at last managed to finish a Balzac novel: "La Recherché de l'Absolu". Has also read Thornton Wilder's "Heaven's my Destination": 'amusing and also rather moving'. Advises him not to see the Lunts in [Jean Giraudoux's] "Amphitryon 38" and wonders what Desmond [MacCarthy] thought of it; finds Lunt 'vulgar and awful'. Is writing "What I believe" for Simon and Schuster. Asks if Trevelyan is coming to the [Apostles'] Dinner: Moore will be there.
Cherry Cottage, Abinger Common, Dorking, Surrey. - Thanks Robert for his 'fine gift' [the first volume of his "Collected Works"]; has been 'dipping into it' since it arrived on Friday, enjoying much but missing some things due to her ignorance of classical mythology. Liked Desmond [MacCarthy]'s review, and hopes Robert was 'satisfied'; if Desmond is right Robert must go on with his young man in China and his perigrinations[s] to the priests and wise men'. Thinks the book is 'beautifully' printed and worthy of a collection 'meant for posterity'. Is 'no fit company' for a walk at present; encourages Robert to come for tea. The beautiful sunny weather is not calming her spirit as it should; thinks her current low mood was started by a review in the "TLS" of 'Freud's dreadful new book' ["Moses and Monotheism"]; wishes for 'old age! and a nice indifference to such horrid things'. Passes on in a postscript Sprigge's anticipation of a 'day snatched from work' to read Robert's poems.