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20 Marmion Rd., Sefton Park, Liverpool. - Abercrombie and his brother Pat have been asked to report to the corporation of Stratford upon Avon on possible industrial development. It seems that the Welcombe estate will be involved, and he asks whether Trevelyan's father (or son Julian) would like to express an opinion. The Abercrombies will be at Stratford the following week.

Mas St Gabriel, Peyloubet, Grasse, A[lpes] M[aritime], France. - Sends condolences on the death of Trevelyan's father. Glad to think Charles can now begin 'his project & its duties'. He and May [his sister] are happy, though the future is uncertain.

Is sorry for 'this upset' [probably the last illness of either or both of Robert Trevelyan's parents]. Advice on Julian's application to Cambridge. Morgan [Forster] is no better: he is going to town to have an X-ray today. Enjoyed his afternoon with the Trevelyans; thinks [Gordon?] Bottomley 'most delightful'. Presumes she has told Allen not to call for him tomorrow.

Does not know why Trevelyan has not received the enclosed [now missing: an invitation for Fry's exhibition at the Alpine Club?]: Trevelyan's father says he cannot come but has the dates wrong. Is fascinated by [Forster's] "The Longest Journey": reminds him more of Gorky than anything else. Logan [Pearsall Smith], however, 'kicks at it'. Is going to Perugia tomorrow for the Exhibition ["Mostra di antica arte umbra"]. Helen is much better. Does not think they will manage the Tovey concerts this time. A postscript notes that [William John?] Evelyn will not agree to the necessary improvements, so the Frys are still househunting.

Cortona. - Has just read the news of Trevelyan's father's death in the newspapers and, though it is not unexpected, knows it will be felt deeply. Has not heard from Trevelyan in a while; he gets some news through 'the B.B.s' [Bernard Berenson's household] but this is not detailed. Thinks he owes him some copies of Desmond MacCarthy's review, which he gets twice, once through Logan [Pearsall Smith]; hears the review is something of a disappointment but cannot judge. Has been at the Consuma, where he met Berenson's youngest sister [Rachel] and her husband [Ralph Barton] Perry; they are charming, but she has a horrid voice and 'looks too much American and too little jew'. They are worried that Mary will not come back well; B.B. never thinks that she should rest.

Elton Hall, Peterborough. - Is attracted by Trevelyan's Rothbury plan and will join in if he can, but there are factors which may prevent him. Miss Weisse went to Germany the Sunday before the British declaration of war; the Noordewiers [Aaltje and Michiel], who have just returned to Holland, heard from her a week ago and she is safe in Hanover. She can get money from the Streckers at Mainz there, and he has 'no special cause for anxiety' at the moment. His brother [Duncan] is in the London Scottish Regiment and has just left on active service, so his family at Worplesdon may want help. He also left all his opera score at the Shiffolds. Whatever his own prospects, and whatever becomes of Fritz Busch, he has to try to work as if nothing has changed. It is 'awful' working on his symphony, 'every note of which is Fritz's private property' but if Fritz comes through the war he could not face him unless the work were perfect. He and Trevelyan must also carry on with the opera: 'German translation & all'. Must not let himself merely subside into his Edinburgh professorship, but must also make 'a striking and solid success' of his first term's work there. Will have a few 'rather vulgar sham-organization-&-efficiency bullies' to cope with, and needs to win the support of people of 'real culture' through efficiency. His timetable is in print in the University calendar; has decided to get a secretary for office-work, and asks if Trevelyan knows of a candidate, though he must be 'an Edinburgh sort of librarian's bottle-washer' and it wouldn't be a good move for Rupert Leigh [Rupert Lee?].

Thinks it best to complete his time at Elton Hall: 'Victor [Hely-Hutchinson]'s talent is a thing of immense importance' and he must be saved 'from the appalling bad musical taste of his people'; they are not 'bad and vulgar' but 'good and kind, in spite of many British limitations that are beyond caricature' and their 'impenetrable satisfaction with the precise stage of culture they happen to have drifted into', which makes things difficult, but he thinks he will succeed. Hal Goodhart-Rendel is an example of 'what bad feeding can do for the finest material in the world': both he and Victor had 'more talent, better health & stronger brains' than Tovey had. His sister [Natalie] must had had a quite useful talent and her violin-playing could have been useful to Victor, but 'it is now so unspeakably bad' and she plays 'such vile stuff' to the delight of her relations that it is bad for Victor to play with her. So Tovey feels he should stay until the other tutor comes on the 20th.

Would be an 'honour & delight' to meet Trevelyan's parents again, and sees it would be good for Trevelyan to be north; however, it may be better for Tovey to be near Northlands, Worplesdon and the Shiffolds. Leaves the decision to Trevelyan.

Hedenham Lodge, Bungay, Suffolk. - Letter of condolence on the death of Trevelyan's father [Sir George Otto Trevelyan]: gathers that his loss has come sooner than expected; knows Trevelyan will be glad there was 'no very prolonged suffering' but that 'it will be a shock however and whenever it came about'. Delights in the memory of the few times he met Sir George, who gave, as his "Life of Macauley" gives, the sense of 'a man who delighted in making people happy' and used his great powers without vanity in a 'long and unselfish life'. Minnie joins in sympathy.

Wien. - Miss Weisse 'probably infuriated' by a clause added by Tovey saying that this was his last word on the subject [the quarrel with Casals]. His letter was 'considerably longer' than the one Bessie saw, out of a wish for clearness, and to choose words meaning the same in French as in English where possible. Each point he made, including the last, agreed between Tovey and [Willi?] Strecker. Henry Weisse saw the letter as it went to Casals, and thought it excellent. The letter was 'greatly improved both in friendliness and accuracy' by the changes. But thinks Casals got the letter on false pretences, saying to Strecker that he would 'consider the Chelsea question' if Tovey made a friendly move, but explained he could not retract his slander as that would mean 'choosing between [Tovey] and his wife'; thinks Casals wanted 'some indiscretion' in Tovey's reply which he could twist to justify his accusations. There could then have been 'peace of a kind' between them: Strecker perhaps does not know Tovey well enough to see that he 'wouldn't touch it with a pair of tongs', and Miss Weisse would accept it as 'she more than half believes in G.C. [Guilhermina Casals]'. Explains why he could not have seen Casals in Liverpool. Will write 'pretty vigorously' to Strecker: is not angry with him, and grateful for all of his help, but is not sure if he is 'quite sound' in his view of Tovey's time in Spain. Has written to [George] Enesco asking him to choose a cellist to replace Casals, sending it to Miss Weisse to fill in the dates and address. Asks to be remembered to Sir George and Lady Trevelyan, and to Julian. [Julius] Röntgen returned to Amsterdam the day before yesterday; he has to write to Casals to thank him for playing in his concerto (a great success). Tovey's 'extra print... sets him free to say anything he likes' and it is 'not his business to keep P. and G. together'. Was delightful being with Röntgen in Vienna. Will stay over Sunday as [Franz] Schalk is going to 'undergo an operation of Ariadne' ["The Bride of Dionysus"]. A postscript recommends that Bessie ask Miss Weisse to show her Tovey's letter to Casals.

The Shiffolds, Holmbury St. Mary, Dorking. - Apologises for not replying sooner to Everett's letter; is very pleased that Everett is generally pleased with "Cecilia [Gonzaga]", and tends to agree with most of his criticisms: he too thinks Antonio's character could have been more effective and that Everett's suggested treatment would have made this possible, also that 'the transitions from verse to prose are not really successful'. Will not admit that what he has tried to do is 'artistically wrong', and could cite the scene between Iago and Cassio in Othello Act II - but that would prove only that 'a very great artist can solve... an apparently impossible problem', not that Trevelyan was right to try. 'A little more of [Count Vittorio] Alfieri's "fierceness" would indeed have done' the play good, but it was Trevelyan's first, rather timid, experiment in drama. May have weakened his verse too much by using tribrachs; they are 'quite legitimate' according to his theory of verse, but tend to 'reduce the dignity and solidity of blank verse' as in Ternnyson and in Euripides' iambics. Uses them less in his 'Parsival play' ["The Birth of Parsival"]; when his verse becomes irregular it is 'usually to produce some lyrical or quasi-lyrical effect' and even there is increasingly inclined 'to leave out unaccented syllables'. 'Doubtless' Polyphemus, in Trevelyan's poem, 'is very much sophisticated and sentimentalized' as is 'his friend the fawn', but he feels 'sophistication and modernization is legitimate, if it is done frankly'; 'the lost lines of Horace' which Everett 'quoted no doubt from a recently discovered papyrus' were however to the point and 'excellent for their own sakes'. His father has sent him Everett's translation of "Phaselus" [Catullus 4]; liked it very much, though still prefers his own as his 'unrhymed iambics' allowed him to 'preserve the movement of the original' more closely than Everett's couplets. Will try "Sabinus ille" ["Appendix Vergiliana", "Catalepton" 10] but does not think he will make much of it; will be very interested to see how Everett tackles. Encloses 'another very doubtful experiment made long ago from Catullus'; found the rhymes 'very hampering' [now not present].

The Shiffolds, Holmbury St. Mary, Dorking. - Thanks Everett for the 'kind and affectionate letter' about his book ["The Birth of Parsival"]; is very pleased with his praise, and interested in his criticisms; feels 'the prehistoric taste in poetry' is the best kind. Glad that Frimutel's character interested Everett; was worried he had made him 'too abstract'. Now sees 'many other faults in the play'. The story is 'not really in the Parsival myth at all', though Herzeloide as Parsival's mother is taken from Wolfram von Eschenbach, and there is 'a Frimutel who was a king of the Grail, and great-uncle of Parsival', so Trevelyan had to invent the story. Took the idea of 'the mother arguing that her child was not a prodigy' from the fragmentary "Melanippe" of Euripides; will have to stay closer to the myth if he ever continues the story and deals with Parsival himself. Has always disliked Tennyson's blank verse, but may possibly 'sometimes commit the same faults', though he argues that his 'irregularities come chiefly in parts that are lyrical, or semi-lyrical'. Defence of a line objected to by Everett. Admits the 'lyrical parts are certainly experimental'; though they please his own ear, cannot be sure they will please others, though he has 'tried to get the rhythm clear'. Expects the music which accompanied Greek irregular lyrical verse did this. Very kind of Everett to say he will buy "Cecilia Gonzaga", though fears he will be disappointed. Will send another early book of his ["Polyphemus and Other Poems"], illustrated by their 'brother' [Cambridge Apostle], Roger Fry; the illustrations 'were very badly reproduced', due to the publisher and printer, not Fry. Has just returned from 'a pleasant fortnight at Wallington'; his parents were both very well; his father 'hard at work at his "[History of the American] Revolution" and has just finished off Burgoyne'.

10 Prinsegracht, The Hague; addressed to Bob at The Mill-House, Westcott, Dorking, Surrey. - They seem to be in similar circumstances this week: she has been helping to clean her uncle [Paul François Hubrecht]'s big bookcases; the charwoman who helped her 'was amusing enough' and made some 'delightfully naïve remarks' about the books. Elizabeth sometime lends books for her or her boys to read. Last Monday they moved to the Hague; the three summers they have spent at Ede seem to have passed very quickly, thinks they were 'the happiest & most interesting' parts of her life so far so she has become attached to the place and 'even to the ugly house' and is sad to think of the new 'unsympathetic' owner changing it, though he can do little to the woods and moors. Is going to spend a few days at Almelo with an old married friend whom she has not seen for some time; she is very musical and her husband seems to be a good pianist; also Marie [Hubrecht's] American friend Maud Howard is coming to stay tomorrow and she is 'not over anxious to see much of her'. Marie is then going to spend the winter in Florence though, like Maud Howard, she is a little vague about her plans.

Has changed her mind about 'forcing circumstances' and now thinks it would be good to see Bob again; suggests he comes over to the Hague next month, on the pretext of doing some work such as a translation of [Joost van] Vondel with which she could help, to make it seem less strange to her uncle and aunt; would have to ask him to stay at a hotel unless her uncle invites him to stay, and knows all this will give him trouble. He must write and tell her sincerely what he thinks. She has discussed the plan with Bramine [Hubrecht] who reassured her there was nothing wrong with it. Gives the address of her friend at Almelo, Mrs Salomonson Asser.

Has just seen a portrait of Bob's father 'on an old Financial Reform Almanack'; remarks on his 'charming eyes'. Hopes Bob is enjoying himself bringing 'dry bones' to live. Asks if he went to the concerts [given by Julius Engelbert Röntgen and Johannes Messchaert] and appreciated the singer. Is reading the Brownings' letters again, which are charming but get terribly sentimental. The [Second Boer] war is indeed horrible; asks if there are reasonable views on its duration and 'what the end can be'; asks whether there are as many 'contradictory muddling telegrams' in British newspapers as in Dutch ones; glad that there are 'so many rightly thinking English', but they are still a minority. The Grandmonts are at Florence, but unfortunately will have left by the time the Frys arrive. Very kind of Trevelyan to transcribe some of his verses for her; looks forward to reading them though she says she is a 'highly unpoetical being'. Signs herself 'Bessie'.

10 Prinsegracht, The Hague. - They have not yet retired to their 'Retraite Edéniencee [ie, at Ede]', as her cousin calls it; does not think they will go before early June. The Grandmonts are still where she left them at Rocca Bella [Taormina, Sicily] at the end of April; they are travelling back with an English friend, stopping only briefly at Florence and Bâle. Was sorry to leave Italy 'like that' but it could not be helped; made her all the more anxious to return another time. Wrote to her cousin [Bramine Hubrecht] and sent her Trevelyan's messages, but does not know whether she will go to England this summer; he does not seem anxious to go and she supposes 'the husband's opinion has great weight in these matters!'. She herself will not be able to; is currently here alone at home with her uncle and aunt [Paul François Hubrecht and his wife Maria] and would not like to leave them when she would have to go 'to fit in with Senior's week at St. Andrews'. Thanks Trevelyan for his letter and the trouble he took with the list of books, though she has not yet got all those he suggested, in part because the library is currently closed. Fortunately the director is a friend of the family and can be persuaded to break the rule forbidding books to be taken or sent into the country, so they sometimes get a good selection sent to Ede; however spring-cleaning is 'a holy business' in this country so she must wait. Asks if Trevelyan could possibly send some of the books he listed: something by Henry James; his father's book; [Robert] Browning's letters; she will get [William?] Morris's "Life" [by J. W. MacKail and his brother's book from the library. Has been reading [Elizabeth Barrett Browning's] "Aurora Leigh" for the first time; asks whether Trevelyan likes it. Will be curious to see Trevelyan's friend [Thomas Sturge Moore]'s poems which he sent to her cousin; wonders whether they will appreciate it; does not think Mrs Grandmont has 'specially classical tastes'. Would be very nice if Trevelyan could come to Ede this summer; unsure still of when exactly would be the best time as she knows nothing of the Grandmonts' plans; thinks probably late August or early September. Is longing to get to fresh air in the country; town seems oppressive after Taormina.

They all feel 'greatly honoured... with all these noble peace delegates' being at the Hague; the Congress was opened yesterday; one of the Dutch members told them 'what a feeble old president Baron de Staal seemed to be' and that 'the first meeting did not promise much'. Is sending some Taormina photographs; the one with Mrs C [Florence Cacciola Trevelyan?] is 'funny but too indistinct'; [Giuseppe] Bruno took the same view which better shows Mrs C. 'like some curious prehistoric Juliet on her balcony'; she has it and will show it to you, or Trevelyan could write to Bruno and ask to see the several pictures he took in her garden of her 'constructions'. Glad Trevelyan has heard some good music in London; she feels out of practice and is looking forward to playing with her sister [Abrahamina Röntgen] again. Knows her aunt is giving her the biography of Joachim by Moser for her birthday. Will also have to 'make special Vondel studies this summer'; feels she knows very little about him.

10 Prinsegracht, The Hague; addressed to Bob at Pension Palumbo, Ravello, preso d'Amalfi, Italia. - Seems Bob may be staying longer in Milan; is sorry for the Frys as Roger Fry is suffering from a bald cold. Has received a parcel from Bob's mother with photographs of his parents and brothers and is very glad to have them. Is glad Bob is enjoying himself at Milan and seeing many beautiful things; curious he has never been before; she remembers the "Cenacolo" [Leonardo's "Last Supper"] 'above all others', and many beautiful things at the Brera, though she and Bramine [Hubrecht] were there during a thunderstorm when it was very dark; looks forward to going again. Bob must not be 'too anxious' about her: she has got over her initial misery at their parting and now he is 'haunting [her] only pleasantly', as he says; she could not be made miserable by thoughts of him as she loves him too much; also trusts him completely.

Returns to the letter in the evening; has been out in the rain to see the dentist and 'arrange a torture hour with him', though less needs to be done than she feared; tonight is Ambro [Ambrosius Hubrecht]'s third lecture, and Paul [his son] has come to see the whale [see 8/14] and will probably go to the lecture on her ticket. Her aunt [Maria Pruys van der Hoeven] has had a letter from Bramine, with an 'enthusiastic account' of how they [the Grandmonts?] are looking after the eye patients [at Taormina] and how helpful Dr [Empedocle?] Gaglio is now. Returns the next day to scold Bob for saying that 'modern art scarcely seems to exist' in Italy; says this is too sweeping a statement and fears 'Fry's dogmas' have been influencing him after all; hopes he will always 'be as inclusive as possible'. Went to Ambro's lecture after all; Paul stayed at home and worked, and this morning has gone to keep an eye on the work of cutting off the fat and baring the skeleton of the whale; he sends many greetings to Bob. The Frys' name for her sounds 'very splendid indeed' and is certainly better than 'Amoretta' which reminds her of 'amourette', a pet hate of hers; she would still like him to call her Bessie or Bess. Very good of him to send her a ring; she will always wear it on the fourth finger of her left hand; a shame he will not be able to put it on her finger and he will have to wear it somehow first.

10 Prinsegracht, The Hague; addressed to Bob at Pension Palumbo, Ravello, preso d'Amalfi, Italia. - Bob's first letter from Ravello arrived yesterday; it arrived just as she was going to the dentist and gave her strength to stand all the treatment; at the end she 'nearly hugged the doctor'. Bob's quotation from Chaucer is 'charming'; hopes he will never need complain of his 'wyve's cussedness'. She got the proofs for her photos yesterday and is quite pleased with them: 'the one without the eye glasses is almost pretty'; will send them to Bob's mother and Bob himself. Writes on the 14th to say that she went to hear a rehearsal the day before 'more worth than last time'; heard an ouverture by Chabrier, 'an empty French piece of music', then Beethoven's second symphony to her 'great delight'. Then she heard Bob's 'friend [Frederic?] Lamond' play the Tchaikowsky piano concerto, and admired his playing but did not care much for the piece. Was sitting with a Russian lady, Madame de Rhemen, who is married to a Dutch Baron and 'a great swell... and a would-be patroniser and enthusiast for musical life at the Hague', 'very clever & intellectual.... though narrow-minded and hard in her opinions'. She 'fascinated Tuttie [Maria Hubrecht] at one time' until 'the tables were turned' and Tuttie became rather tired of her, and 'taken up with her American friend [Maud Howard]', it was 'such a comedy'; now Bessie thinks the feelings on both sides have 'fallen rather flat'. Her husband is 'a dry stolid old Dutchman', and the marriage not happy. Had not seen her since the summer; she wanted to hear all about Bob; is going to dine with her on Saturday then go to a music recital. Another old Russian lady, the Comtesse de Bylandt, came to sit with them; told Bessie she had lived twenty years in England, knows Bob's parents, and knew his grandfather very well. Returned home and took down some 'dull' dictation for her uncle [Paul François Hubrecht]. [Her brother-in-law Julius Engelbert] Röntgen writes that the family are all pleased with their new sister, except Johannes 'who began to howl when the baby was shown to him'. Is very cross that a letter from her sister [Abrahamina] inviting her to come to hear a chamber concert on Saturday only reached her yesterday; she could have played to [Bram] Eldering and got some preliminary advice, as he is too busy to start her lessons before January.

Gredel Guye is coming again on Friday, as her oral examination is on Saturday; remembers the day of her last visit, which was when Bob had his interview with her uncle. Had a strange dream last night in which 'some curious law' forced her to marry someone else, she thinks Mr Eldering, and woke with great relief. Got Bob's father's "Life of Macauley" from the library recently (they only have that, his "American Revolution", and Bob's brother George's book ["England in the Age of Wycliffe, 1368–1520"]. Macauley's life looks 'very interesting'; has glanced through and seen a letter of his to his sister Margaret about his other sister [Hannah]'s marriage to Bob's grandfather, speaking very highly of him. Agrees that she must read [Theodor] Mommsen, as Bob said at Taormina, to see whether he can inspire with 'the true love of history' she has never possessed. Happy thoughts about her feelings for Bob and their marriage. Now going to stay with her cousin Louise Hubrecht again at Leiden; is taking her [Bob's] "Mallow and Asphodel" as she asked to see it.

The Hague; addressed to Bob at Pension Palumbo, Ravello, presso Amalfi, Italia. - Teases Bob by suggesting his poetry is a fraud, and for his 'untidy, would-be genius look'. Hopes the weather has improved; asks if Ravello is a rainy place, as she remembers it being wet when he was there with George, and whether he cannot work well unless he is outside. Glad Mrs [Sophia] Reid is so kind to him. Hopes [Pasquale] Palumbo is better; asks if his wife and daughter would keep up the pension if he died, about Bob's room, and whether he is now the only guest. Has got a new hat; her family say it suits her, and her uncle [Paul François Hubrecht] teases her by saying 'Varello', his new name for Bob, would like to see it. Reads from Bob's letters to her uncle and aunt as they are 'so interested to hear anything'; was annoyed that her aunt seemed to have the idea that her feelings about the [Second Boer] war were 'gradually changing' but this is all resolved. Later, writes that she has just returned with her uncle from a rehearsal of Haydn's "Schöpfung (Creation)" which she much enjoyed.

Writes on Thursday morning that she has received Bob's letter with his plans for returning towards the end of January; has been discussing them with her uncle and aunt. There are no real objections to it on her part, though she does feel it 'rather a pity' for her visit to England to be so much sooner; worries about leaving her uncle and aunt alone in the winter since Tuttie [her cousin Marie] will not have returned; also thinks it is a shame for Bob to leave Ravello so much earlier than planned, though she is delighted that she might see him in a month; Bob's parents have first say in the matter. Since he will only be in Holland for a short time, she thinks he should return later in spring when she is back from England, to be introduced to some friends and relations. Feels it would probably be better if she travelled to England by herself, though he knows her opinion that sensitivities on the subject are 'absurd & silly'; asks him to tell her what his mother thinks. Very glad [Pasquale] Palumbo is better, for his wife and daughter's sake and because now Bob will not have to move to a 'damp hotel'; begs him never to do this, and asks if Mrs Reid could take him in; if Mrs Palumbo is 'so fond' of him he can have fewer scruples about staying. Jokes about the fee in kisses which Bob asks for his literary advice; has read "Romeo and Juliet", but not yet "The Merchant of Venice". Had a happy day yesterday in Amsterdam seeing the baby [Amanda Röntgen]; her sister [Abrahamina Röntgen] 'asked at once how many letters from Ravello' she had in her pocket, and she read some of the latest one to her with the Vaughan and Blake poems. Went in the evening to hear the whole of the oratorio ["The Creation"] which delighted her, as Haydn's music always does. Is sending Bob the three photographs of her; likes the one without spectacles best, which reminds her somewhat of her mother's face; will also send them to his mother. Describes a dream she had with him in last night. He must not be anxious about her feet; is managing keep them warmer with 'footbags, gaiters etc etc' and a hot brick, thought she does have chilblains at the moment. Calls Bob her 'dearest dearest diddle-diddle-darling (as Jos Sedley said in Vanity Fair when he was drunk!'

19 Prinsegracht, the Hague; addressed to Bob at Pension Palumbo, Ravello, presso Amalfi, Italia. - They have heard from Tuttie [Maria Hubrecht] that she had caught a bad cold, could not work, and decided to go now to Taormina as Bramine [Hubrecht] had proposed she should come and spend a month with them; thinks this is a good thing since she thinks it was parting from Maud [Howard] which upset Tuttie more than the cold; it 'really is a most morbid friendship'; discusses Tuttie's character, and the tension when she and her sister Mien came to live with their uncle and aunt after their mother's death and Tuttie had much of the responsibility of looking after them since 'she was far too young and domineering'. Reflections on the time that children grow up and do not take their relatives for granted, along with the varied nature of her own experience so far. Has to go and prepare as she is going with her uncle and aunt to a dinner party with the vice president of the State Council, a friend of her uncle's. Dreamt last night that she and her sister arranged to share husbands, though she herself was rather reluctant; later she had a still worse dream in which there was no Bob and a man 'like a young Dane I met last summer, a cousin of the Hartmann's' was kissing her 'and I even enjoyed it!!'.

Writes next day that she has received Bob's letter, and the enclosure from his friend [Thomas Tettrell?] Phelps which is charming; remembers what he said about Phelps' 'prophetic jokes' and hopes the one about the Hollanders does not come true; promises she will not get fat as she is 'too bony' and anyway has no figure to lose. Describes the dinner party last night: one of her neighbours at table was from Zeeland and told her stories about the customs of the peasantry there; the host was also from Zeeland and they usually have a very strong feeling for their province. There was some talk of Bob; a 'fat gentleman, the secretary of the Council' seemed to have read nearly all of the Trevelyan family's literature and asked many questions; their host proposed a tost to their engagement. Looks forward to reading 'the Paolo and Francesca play which is so much the rage' [by Ste[hen Phillips]; wonders if she will feel as critical about it as Bob does; will also read "The Merchant of Venice" and re-read "Romeo and Juliet", though she has a lot to read and the Hague is not as quiet as Ravello. Laetita Ede has sent her "The Golden Age" by Kenneth Grahame; asks if Bob knows it. Is glad the weather is better and he has got some work done; the Germans call a bad poet a 'Wasserpoet' or waterpoet; she could call him a 'weather-poet' as he 'can only do good work W[eather] P[ermitting'; apologises for teasing him. Asks what play he is working on; knows it is not the one he showed her a scene of. Now Bob has read Ambro [Hubrecht's] article he is 'clever & scientific again' and can let her go to lectures in peace. Gives a satirical sketch of his character, then says she is cross today, firstly for spilling tea down her new dress and secondly as she had bad dreams again last night.

Continues the letter on Sunday afternoon. Ambro and his wife are coming tonight or tomorrow to spend the week, with their children who are 'sure to make things very lively'; unfortunately the thaw has set in so they will not get much skating, which they love. Has read of the destruction of the Capuccini hotel at Amalfi by a landslip; asks if this is true and whether there has been anything felt at Ravello. Her uncle has written to Lord Reay to ask about necessary formalities for the marriage and has had a reply giving some but not all the answers he requires; Lord Reay has made inquiries about Mr [William Edward Hartpole] Lecky's marriage, as his wife is a Dutchwoman [Elisabeth van Deden] also with some landed property; they held the civil marriage in the Hague in the Town House and at the English Embassy. Hopes this will be enough for them; an 'English church marriage' would be 'very unpleasant in this case'; hopes he feels the same; would like to leave out as much 'conventionality for the world's sake' as possible. If they want the Grandmonts to be there, it will have to be after May, while it will need to be before August for the Röntgens to be present. Her uncle will write to Bob's father as soon as he knows exactly how things stand. Asks how [Pasquale] Palumbo is doing, and whether Bob had a good Christmas.

10 Prinsegracht, s'Gravenhage; addressed to Bob at Pension Palumbo, Ravello, presso d'Amalfi, Italia. - 'Poor Gredel [Guye]' has failed; she is 'downcast', but 'very sensible' knowing it is a very hard exam and she can try next year. She and her family seem to like Bob very much. Is not sure about Bob's correction of her Italian. Notes that her letters reach him quicker than his get to her; discusses love letters; often wishes she could find new ways of expressing her love; would be good if Bob learnt Dutch so that she could write to him in it. Asks if he knows he sometime leaves out words, about two or three a page; when he wrote 'sea-sickness would prevent [him] from coming to see [her]', meaning the contrary, she thought she would have to give him up. Glad that Ravello has inspired Bob's 'poetic vein', as she sees in his letter. Unsure why Bob is surprised she showed his mother's photographs to her uncle and aunt, especially as he knows how everything which enters the house 'is enquired after'. Spent a very happy afternoon at Leiden on Thursday, seeing her cousin Louise [Hubrecht]; wants Bob to meet her as she is so nice; told her lots about him and left his poems ["Mallow and Asphodel"]. Went skating yesterday on the ponds in the wood, for the first time this year; wonders if Bob skates and imagines skating together. Went to see the 'poor man at the Hospital' [see 9/]13 again this afternoon, and got to know him much better; he told her that there was a man in the same ward who had earned his living 'travelling round the country with a crocodile, which he had left behind at his inn now' earning about 8 guilders, almost fourteen shillings, a week. If the weather is good tomorrow, will go to Amsterdam to see her niece Amanda Röntgen and congratulate her parents; now she is going to read [Sir George Otto Trevelyan's] 'Life of Macauley'; will also re-read [Joseph Henry Shorthouse's] "John Inglesant" so as to be reading it at the same time as Bob and able to discuss it with him.

Continues the letter next morning; has put off her visit to Amsterdam, probably till Tuesday. Ambro [Hubrecht] stayed the night after 'looking after his smelly whale [see 9/14] again'; they have produced much 'precious oil' from it, though it has been hard getting kettles big enough to hold the bones; he was 'very lively' and has sent Bob a bound copy of his American speech. Discusses [General Sir Redvers Henry] Buller's defeat at Colenso, and asks if it might effect a change in public opinion. Asks whether he likes the "Manchester Guardian", and whether it reaches him quickly. Asks if he has heard from [Lina] Duff Gordon or his 'Florence friends' [the Berensons?]. She has had a 'very nice letter' from Mrs Hartmann, the Danish lady, also from Miss Dahlrup who sends kindest regards. Looks forward very much to returning to Sicily together. Has also hear from Mrs van Riemdyk about Tonina's violin; they would never sell it but would loan it to Bessie, which is 'quite unlawful'. so Bessie has replied to say she is not interested and Bob's 'sweet, kind & generous gift... must come to nothing'. Has been reading an argument between the Brownings about duelling, which she discusses, as well as the possibility of Bob losing his temper with her and vice versa; calls herself 'a hasty-tempered vixen'. Finishes off the letter next morning; likes the poetry Bob has copied out for her, especially Blake's; the beginning of his letter is 'very naughty indeed', and he will get his 'whipping one day - women's whips are their tongues'; quotes a Dutch proverb translated into English. Hopes his host is better, and that the storms have passed.

19 Prinsegracht, the Hague; addressed to Bob at Pension Palumbo, Ravello, presso Amalfi, Italia. - This morning she left a letter of Bob's under the pillow, where she had put it to bring good dreams, and the servant found it; fortunately she knows no English and is discreet. Thinks it best for her to write to Bob's mother saying she would be pleased to come to England in early February as she proposes; will have a talk to her uncle [Paul François Hubrecht] about it this afternoon. Thinks they could arrange some visiting when Bob returns in January; will draw up a list; sees that it would be better to finish everything then to avoid interruptions to his work later. Marrying in July would give him an extra month for work, but hotter weather for the honeymoon. Hopes that the [Second Boer] war will be over by then; it is very depressing, and hard 'hearing the English being abused so continually'; difficult to get at the truth of the matter from superficial reports. There have been too many arguments in the house between Ambro's wife Marie [Johanna Maria Hubrecht] and her aunt [Maria van der Hoeven]. Heard last night that Willy van Riemsdyk [Willem Johan Emanuel Jonkheer van Riemsdijk?], Tonina' brother whom Bob met in Ede, is going to South Africa to help the Boers; they are all worried about it as he is the eldest son and his mother is a widow; thinks Paul [Hubrecht] will try to persuade him to give the idea up when he comes to say goodbye today. Is reading Macauley's Iife and letters, and finding interesting but 'rather hard reading' sometimes, as Bob's father expects much greater knowledge of English political history than she possesses; afraid he will find her 'a terrible ignoramus in that respect' and hopes Bob has prepared him, since the Trevelyans are such a political family. Has talked to her uncle; will write to Bob's mother today or tomorrow; hopes Bob can arrange to return to the Netherlands for a week's visiting. Apologises for the 'nasty' parts of her letter; her 'depression' has nothing to do with Bob.

Returns to the letter next day. her aunt is ill with a cold, probably caught from Paul. Last night old [Johan Herman?] Geertsema, the retired Minister of State who lives at Doorn and whom Bob saw at the station when he went to Utrecht with Bramine [Hubrecht], came to dinner; he was 'specially nice about the war' and said many people were prejudiced and condemned British policy in South Africa altogether, when if Cape Colony had been a Dutch settlement, they 'would never have succeeded in bringing so much civilization over there in such a short time'. Marie and Paul [Hubrecht] have gone to Utrecht to try to persuade Willy van Riemsdijk not to go to South Africa. Their 'English cousin', Fred Davidson is coming to dinner tonight; has not seen him for several years. Sends Bob half of a twin almond, a 'philippine' as it is called in Dutch, which she picked up at dinner last night.

19 Prinsegracht, the Hague; addressed to Bob at Pension Palumbo, Ravello, presso Amalfi, Italia. - Very pleased with Bob's 'beetle letter', which arrived yesterday; unfortunately when she kissed the creature to 'snatch off' his kisses it broke up, but she has put the pieces together and will 'keep him as a beautiful unicorn'. She and her uncle feel that it would be difficult for her to go to England before the middle of February due to her aunt's illness; will write to Bob's mother soon to tell her; seems natural that he should stay longer at Ravello; whenever he comes, she will not be able to spend as much time with him as before. He will have to send her his 'first journalistic work' as the Salomonson's cannot send her old numbers [of the "Manchester Guardian"] and she does not know where to get them. Says the beetle brought her nice dreams in which Bob was kissing her. Must re-read the poem by [Richard] Crashaw which he copied out for her. Pities Straughn Davidson [James Leigh Strachan-Davidson] for having to act as Bob's 'bucket' [see 9/101] and hopes he appreciated his 'rich breakfast' [of poetry]. Very glad Bob thinks her a good letter writer. Wishes she could persuade her family to get a night nurse, as her uncle's night is disturbed and yet he is not as helpful to her aunt as a trained nurse would be. Had a note from George [Macauley Trevelyan] inviting her to come to Cambridge next month; very kind of him to write, and she hopes they will soon go, though expects she will 'feel terrified'. Likes Bob's father's book ["The Life and Letters of Lord Macaulay"] very much, as well as Crashaw's poem; agrees there are some likenesses between the latter and Browning. Quotes from Dante's "Vita Nuova [xiv]'.

19 Prinsegracht, the Hague; addressed to Bob at Pension Palumbo, Ravello, presso Amalfi, Italia and forwarded to him c/o B. Berenson, 3. Via Camerata, Firenze. - Bob's last letter is one of his 'very nicest'. Her aunt has been much better again. Has paid some calls this afternoon, including to Mrs de Rhemen, Tuttie [Maria Hubrecht]'s Russian friend; the other old Russian lady [Countess van Rylandt] who knows Bob's parents was also there, and talked to Bessie about church music at Moscow; the rest of the visit was 'stupid & senseless' and Mrs de Rhemen's pet dog has given her a flea; they always come to her, so if she and Bob travel in Italy together he will be left in peace. Next morning, writes that there has been 'a great bustle' in the house as her gift of a 'fine old chestnut cabinet' was set up in her uncle's room; he will store 'all his papers & family reliques' in it as he did in the old one. Is disappointed and indignant that Mrs van Riemsdijk, having told her that they were not prepared to sell Tonina's violin but would let it to Bessie, which she declined knowing she would grow too fond of the instrument and did not want to insist since it had belonged to Mrs van Riemsdijk's husband, wrote to her aunt saying that Tonina had sold her violin abroad and wanted to keep this private. Will probably hear more about the matter from Ambrose [Hubrecht] 'who is her councillor and confident [sic]' and generally takes her side, but otherwise does not want to think about it; Bob's 'dear generous offer' of helping her buy it made the idea all the more precious, though the van Riemsdijks do not know that. Teases Bob for wanting to get back to England quickly to eat some 'beefy British dinners'; he will have a 'foretaste' of her 'dinner-ordering-capacities' when she comes, but she encourages him to stay a little longer if she is to cross on 14 Feb which now seems likely. Has forwarded two letters and a 'big Dorking one to Mr "Treveylan"; asks if this is Mrs Enticknap's spelling; admires her for adding 5 pence for postage abroad. Tells him to write from Florence.

10 Prinsegracht, Hague; addressed to Bob at Penmenner House, The Lizard, Cornwall and forwarded to him at 3 Hare Court, Inner Temple, London. - Will study the patterns Bob has sent her and send them to London, with her choice for his 'nuptial trousers' and travelling suit. Will speak again to her uncle about Bob's objections to writing himself to the consul [Henry Turing]. Entreats Bob for Sir Henry House and his wife not to be invited to the wedding breakfast: her uncle and aunt, who will send out the invitations, do not know the Howards at all so it does not matter that they are 'very distant relations', while their presence would give 'a different ton to the whole business' and make her miserable. It is also likely that Grandmont and Bramine would not come if the Howards were invited, due to their objection to 'jingos'. Does not see it as necessary to invite the Howards, unless Bob's parents wish it especially. Sometimes wishes they could marry 'quietly without anyone near', though knows it could be a lovely day with happy memories; wishes people could 'take it easier'. Returns to the letter after a walk with her aunt, who agrees with her about having to give up part of her musical interests after marriage; understand what Bob means, and thinks she may have expressed herself too strongly in her first letter [9/45], which is the 'wretched side of correspondence'; will wait until she sees him to discuss it. Sees what Bob means about Mrs [Helen] Fry's cigarette smoking; cannot quite feel as he does yet; knows she does have 'a great and natural tendency to rectilineal & rather exclusive argumentation'; hopes she can 'suspend judgment' as Bob says. Does not know enough about German literature to comment on what he says about German literature, but emphasises the advantage, 'which the English nation as a whole is slow & rare in acknowledging' of being able to talk to foreigners in their own language; as an example, it was a real shame that Bob and [Julius Engelbert] Röntgen were unable to converse properly; this is why she was so disappointed when he once refused to learn as 'it seemed such an insular British way of looking at it'. Ordered the book [Stevenson's "The Suicide Club"] for Jan [Hubrecht] and he was very pleased. Mr Kattendijke and Mr Loudon are coming to make music this afternoon. Lula [Julius Röntgen] is recovering from his severe illness. Joachim is going to play with his quartet in Amsterdam next Saturday, and Mien has got her a ticket; will stay with Mrs Guye [or Guije], Gredel's mother; would love to go to the supper party the Röntgens are having for Joachim after the concert but expects Mien has too many guests to invite her. Is glad not to see Bob with his beard, and hopes he never decides to grow one. Asks who Jacobi is, and for Bob to tell him what 'the Cambridge Moore [i.e. George] thinks of his play.

The Hague. - Agrees with Bob that he should not come over till mid-May, and does not think her uncle seriously wishes him to come earlier; does not understand why he is having friends to stay and going visiting again if he wants to get some more work done, but is glad he is going to see them. Thinks there will be plenty of time for business or visiting; they might go to Utrecht, Amsterdam and Rotterdam, and would love to go with him to Heerde in Gelderland where her sister [Henriette] lives; will have to go there to see the children and her husband the doctor before she leaves, though her sister is probably coming to the wedding. Does not know where Bob left the bed catalogue; thinks she remembers seeing it last in Charles's room at Grosvenor Crescent; asks if they can order a softer mattress. Will measure her Dutch pillowcases tomorrow and send him the measurements; further discussion of fittings and furniture, and arrangements for packing and unpacking her things. Bob should ask his mother about what tie he should wear with his frock coat; Dutch husbands always wear white tie with their evening dress; thinks blue or green suit him if he is to choose a coloured tie. If the patent boots he wore to Roger [Fry]'s wedding are still good he can wear them again. Hopes he will soon hear from Mrs Pepper; 'what a name for a honeymoon lady!!'. Spent two nights at Almelo which were enjoyable but so hot she had difficulty sleeping; Jeanne [Salamonson Asser] very kindly tried to 'read her to sleep out of "Pilgrim's Progress"'. Then went to Amsterdam, where she helped Mien [Röntgen] arrange the flowers and table, before they went to the [Joachim] concert which was 'delightful beyond words'; they did a Haydn, Brahms and a Beethoven quartet. Then they returned for the supper party, at which '[Bob's] friend young Harold Joachim, the Oxford fellow' was present; he sat next to her at supper and seems a 'very nice fellow'; they had met once before at St Andrews when she thought him 'a strange odd person & was in great awe of him'. Thinks Harold wants her and Bob to come and see them at Haslemere when 'Uncle Jo' is staying with them; Bessie was at school with his sister. Tomorrow the quartet are in the Hague, and Harold is crossing by night so she has invited him to lunch. When healths were being drunk at the end of the meal and she went up to Joachim to touch glasses, he at once proposed 'Ihr Bräutigam' ['Your bridegroom']; he remembered that Bob's father had once taken him home in his carriage. On Tuesday she went to see her 'socialist sister [Theodora] and her husband [Herman Heijenbrock]' on their farm and enjoyed her day with them more than she had expected to; they are very happy together and she admires their convictions though they do not convince her.

Returns to the letter next day, before going to meet [Alice and Herbert] Jones. Is sure Bob would be 'amused' to meet the socialist couple, but he [Heijenbrock] does not know English so it would be no good. Then went to stay with the aunt who lives nearby; she is not a 'favourite' in their house and they do not see her often, but several of her sisters see her often; the aunt was very friendly but it is never pleasant to be there. Fortunately her daughter, Bessie's cousin, was also there. Found her uncle and aunt fairly well when she returned, but the house is in 'a horrible state' due to the repainting, and they both have a slight cold. Went to the station to meet the Jones and they did not appear; English visitors 'always change their plans at the last minute or miss trains... or don't wire in time' as is the case for the Joneses, who are now coming tomorrow. [Harold] Joachim also cannot come to lunch and is calling in the afternoon. [Joseph] Joachim is staying tonight with Mr [Nicolaas] Pierson, the Finance Minister, and his wife, who has invited Bessie to a select party this evening. Is going to the concert tomorrow night with Alice Jones; the Röntgens may also come. The cellist [Robert] Hausmann is 'a charming person, so refined and artistic'; talked to him the other night and he admired Bob's ring. Bob will get this letter when he comes up to London to see his father. She thinks he should bring any work she has not seen on their honeymoon, as they might not have much quiet time before the wedding. Understands that his 'literary ambition is not connected with [his] love' and thinks this is right. Last half page with pillowcase measurements.

10 Prinsegracht, the Hague. - Has just received Bob's letter with the long explanation about his father's request; she understands, and had already said she would withdraw any objection [to inviting Sir Henry Howard to the wedding] if his parents wished it. She had made an objection 'long before the Grandmonts thought of it', but did not realize the Howards were 'so much & friendly related' to Bob's father. Has resolved not to be as worried about these things; it is not possible to insist on 'an ideal day'. Will talk to her uncle and ask him to send the invitation; hopes the Grandmonts will not decide to stay away, and agrees they should be told at once; Bramine knows how much it would hurt her if they did not come. Hopes they have forwarded the letter with her photograph to him. Originally enclosing the pattern she prefers for Bob's trousers. Tomorrow, she and Alice [Jones] are going sight-seeing in Amsterdam; they have talked a great deal about their school days; went to the English church with her this morning and did not enjoy yourself. Would be nice if Bob wrote a letter to thank the servants; thinks it would be best to send it to Booa [Mary Prestwich], but he should ask his mother who 'knows her people better'.

The Hague. - Returned from Amsterdam to find Bob and his mother's letters; is very sorry that he has spoken to his parents about her 'unfortunate letter', which caused his father to decide not to come over for the wedding, when she had emphasised that she was writing about her conversations with her uncle privately as she 'knew & hoped' he would reconsider; was writing in despondent mood after hearing her uncle's first objection to [Sir Henry] Howard and his wife being asked, but he always makes difficulties and then thinks differently, and had never decided in any case that he would not invite them. He was disturbed that day as he had misunderstood what she was saying about the Grandmonts, and thought she planned to write and tell them 'point blank' that the Howards were to be invited, without persuading them to come all the same. Bob seems to think it would be simpler for his father not to come, but she tells him it would be 'simply terrible': she would be very unhappy, and her uncle and aunt would be very disappointed, and probably very angry with her for writing so openly to Bob about what they say. She has written this afternoon in her 'despair' to Bob's father explaining the matter frankly, trying to make him see her point of view and begging him to reconsider his decision. Know this was 'very bold' and hopes Sir George will forgive her; asks Bob to try and persuade him to come as well. Bob's mother's letter was very kind, but she is 'horribly frightened' to think what she has done; should never have written to Bob as she did but did think he would keep it private. Very sweet of Bob to think of coming over sooner, but it is not necessary.

Letter concludes on a separate sheet [9/67]. Told Bob's father she would not tell her uncle about his decision until she heard again from him, so is 'walking about with the awful weight' upon her and nobody to share it

Hague. - Talked to her uncle this evening, but he did not respond as well as she thought he would to the suggestion that [Sir Henry] Howard and his wife should be invited to the wedding; these days he cannot grasp a new idea 'without making a difficulty, an obstacle out of it'; this time he said the character of the occasion would be changed and it would become a 'state party', and she assured him she did not mind. Since he has never met the Howards he felt he could not invite them; she told him to think about the idea until Bob came over, when he may get to know them and ask them. Thinks it will all come right; his habit of making difficulties is 'infectious' and she asks Bob to help her resist this tendency in herself.

Returns to the letter on Tuesday morning [1 May]: wishes Bob were there to ''help & comfort her' since her uncle has been 'raging' at her for suggesting writing to the Grandmonts to tell them about perhaps inviting Sir Henry. Her aunt has just talked to her about it: they are 'very much against ' being obliged to ask someone they do not know and do not really care to ask; tells Bob this privately and thinks it best to wait now until he comes over and can talk to her uncle himself. It might be even better, if Bob's father strongly wishes the Howards to be invited, that he write and say so himself to her uncle, and give him an introduction to them. She only wanted to be totally frank, and thought telling her uncle how strongly Bob's father felt would persuade him; instead she has made him 'feel offended' at the idea of Bob's father 'wishing to govern' his invitations and 'threatening' that he would not come over if the Howards were not invited. Feels very helpless; hates to 'make a "stand" against people'; her uncle is very hard to deal with and her aunt just supports him. Poor Alice Jones must know something is going on, but she cannot discuss this with her.

Her uncle is sending off a letter to Bob's father quite different from the first one he planned; Ambro [Hubrecht] has written to say he disapproves of the first draft and enclosed one to be sent instead, which is 'a horrid hard, terrible letter... very polite but cruelly hard towards [Bessie and Bob]; does not know how Ambro can write such things. He asks if Sir George wishes to have the religious service after the wedding; hopes the reply is that Bessie and Bob should decide whether they want there to be one.

10 Prinsegr[acht], the Hague. - Her uncle returned the papers yesterday with a letter to Bob's father; she expects 'the engrossing etc.' will take some time, so if Bob wants to sign them before coming over he will need to wait; he should do what he thinks best, as her 'patience is quite infinite now', but it would be good if he could come by Wednesday. Her uncle wrote that they were satisfied with the settlement and that the wedding would be organised according to Bob's father's wishes; neither he nor her aunt want the church wedding at all, so it is 'absurd' that they listened to Ambro [Hubrecht]'s scruples, and there will be no more difficulty there. Discussion of the beds and bedding. If they can call at Grosvenor Crescent to pick up the parcel which Booa has for her, that will save Bob the trouble of bringing it; trusts him not to forget the spectacles. Will order Bob's room at the Twee Steden when she knows when he is coming; she and her uncle will order the rooms for his parents at the View Doelen this afternoon; she will then go to a 'little musical séance at the piano shop', with Mr Kattendijke playing and Mr Loudon singing; she will play a Handel sonata and a Bach aria. Thinks she will send the letter to London, though Bob 'seems to have got a nice dear old postman at Westcott, who understands the human heart'. Returns to the letter later to say that her uncle has the idea of holding the wedding breakfast at the Oude Doelen hotel; this would be easier in many ways, she dislikes the idea 'intensely', as she will explain when Bob comes, but will give in if he insists.

Concluded on a separate sheet [9/66]: wonders when Bob got her letter saying he ought to write to her uncle. Tuttie [Hubrecht] is now in Florence and wants to return as soon as she can. Thinks Bob will be able to get a nice top hat here; would like to choose one with him. Thinks the white silk tie will be perfect; likes that his mother has knitted it for that occasion. Glad he got both a Carlisle and a Meredith: a 'splendid present'. Hopes the walls [at Westcott] will be ready by the time they get there; he should tell Mrs Enticknap to air the mattresses in the sun, and must remember himself to bring all the papers her uncle talked about.

Menu card with illustration of sailing boats in a harbour; dated 5 June 1900 on the back and signed by Robert C. Trevelyan, Bramine Grandmont H[ubrech]t, George Otto Trevelyan, M[aria] Hubrecht Pruys v[an] d[er] H[oeven], Am[brosius] Hubrecht, Caroline Trevelyan, P[aul] F[rancois] Hubrecht [?], Marie Hubrecht-Molewater, A[lphonse] Grandmont, P[aul] F[rançois] Hubrecht, Jan Hubrecht, Tuttie [Hubrecht], Charles Trevelyan and Elizabeth des Amorie v[an] d[er] Hoeven.

10 Prinsegracht, the Hague. - Was 'utterly & completely relieved' by Bob's letter this morning; her uncle has been 'wrong & absurd in many ways', perhaps in different ways than Bob thinks, but it does not matter and they can discuss it and settle things when he comes. Her uncle is at Amsterdam and Utrecht today, so she is alone with her aunt at home. Would have been very disappointed if Bob's father had not come; says this will be her last letter on the subject; she may have been wrong in not showing Bob's mother's letter to her uncle at once, but does not think her own letter to Bob's father was wrong. Will ask her uncle where papers are sent, and if Bob can sign them here if there is a delay; would like him to come on Monday or Tuesday but can be 'magnanimously generous' if he needs to come a few days later. Would like to have seen Bob ordering the beds; asks if he found them at once, and about the mattress and pillows. Did not realise the Apostles' dinner was in London; better as it is nearer, so they can stay in a hotel for a night and go on afterwards. Is very glad to have seen and liked the clavichord at Dolmetsch's; is glad Trevelyan is pleased with the present, and it will be a 'precious thing to have', though it is rather comical that neither of them can play it. Tells Bob to bring over a 'nice hat' and 'clean overcoat', as well as his evening suit. Explains her preference for travelling to England via Flushing [Vlissingen] rather than the Hook. Is reading "Pride and Prejudice": 'how good it is, & amusing!'.

10 Prinsegracht, the Hague. - Her uncle received Bob's letter with 'all the legal papers, settlement etc.' last night. Asks if Bob read through the settlement; she tried to last night but did not understand everything, nor did her uncle, so he has sent it to his lawyer to have it explained and they will return it as soon as possible. Her uncle was surprised not to find the marriage contract enclosed; thinks he expects Bob to write saying he approves and sending the contract back. Does not now feel 'bitter' about the earlier tensions as she loves and understands her uncle too much. [Sir Henry] Howard and his wife called yesterday and left cards, so the 'bridge' is formed. Is busy with packing and clearing; tonight she will look through an interesting old collection of papers relating to her mother's life and marriage with her uncle; she will certainly want to keep her mother's own letters. Tomorrow she is lunching with her 'only Dutch co-senior of St. Andrews, a girl from Rotterdam whose mother was an old friend of Bramine [Hubrecht]'s. Likes the clavichord present all the more as she thinks of it; thinks it very nice of Bob's friends; asks if Mrs [Helen] Fry [who decorated it] is pleased, and what 'poor Dolmetsch' will do without it. Teases Bob for having 'wedding presents from nice young lady friends [Lily Hodgkin] sent over from Dresden' and keeping it secret from her; she found out from Alice Jones. Tells him not to forget the parcel Booa will give him, nor the gold spectacles; he should also bring his play and any other poems he likes.