I Tatti, Settignano, Florence. - Hopes Bessie has received his postcard. Has now recovered from the 'rather tiring journey'. Julian has gone to town to find out about sleeper trains. Umberto Morra has gone home; it was good to see him, even for such a… read more
I Tatti, Settignano, Florence. - Hopes Bessie has received his postcard. Has now recovered from the 'rather tiring journey'. Julian has gone to town to find out about sleeper trains. Umberto Morra has gone home; it was good to see him, even for such a short time. [Leo] Stein came to the library yesterday; Bob 'cannot help liking him, though he bores [him] a great deal'. Julian is going to Siena next week. B.B. [Bernard Berenson] has talked a great deal to him and 'seems to like him'. George and Janet are coming to Lina [Waterfield]'s from Rome tomorrow; he and Julian will go to lunch at Poggio [Gherardo] to see them. They had tea at Poggio yesterday; Lina seems well and does not look much older. Last night they all listened to a 'very good German record of the [Bach's] Matthew Passion' and much enjoyed it. Little damage to I Tatti, and 'all the books and most of the pictures are back; some of the pictures have 'suffered a certain amount'. Poggio is much the same, but 'all the old furniture and pictures seem to be gone'. Hopes everyone is well at the Shiffolds and that Bessie's cold has gone. Has just written to Desmond [MacCarthy]. Bessie should get Joan [Allen] to come and see her soon. Will remember to get her some scent, and will ask Nicky [Mariano] about this.
Julian has come back from Florence, and has a sleeping car ticket for Bob for the train which leaves on 20 April and reaches London next day. This is a week earlier than expected; hopes it will not disrupt Bessie's plans. Julian is dining tonight with his friend Michael Noble, who lives near Settignano.
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