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(London Hospital, Whitechapel.)—(17th.) She enjoyed their meeting this afternoon and is sorry she gets so little time away from work.—(18th.) She may not be able to lunch with him on Saturday, so encourages him to go to Walmer if he wants to.

(Dated Wednesday and Thursday.)

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Transcript

Wednesday evening

Dearest {1} I was very glad to see you again this afternoon, but, (& I dont want to draw a pathetic picture of my lot, because it doesnt in the least take you in, tho’ I do also think if you really knew what its like you’d think one had every cause to be wretched, but I’m not) I dont think you can realise what a very little way 3 hours 3 times a week goes, particularly when nearly an hour of that time must be spent in dressing & in getting to & from this place. So much as I should like to see you every day it cant be done. But of course I think it divine of you to want it.

I got back just in time, and did two hours “work” & then went to a foolish lecture & now after some talk with other “nurses” over a box of biscuits must put out the light & pretend at any rate that I’m fast asleep. I’ll finish in the morning.

6.40 Thursday (does that wring your heart at all?)

I’ve looked at this piece of paper & the above line for about 5 minutes, but as might be expected my head is an entire void. Today doesnt present a very attractive appearance to me, not even the hope of seeing Reggie, & the only very faint one of seeing him tomorrow. I’ll send you a telegram Saturday if I can lunch, but if you dont hear you’ll know that I cant get away. I’m more than doubtful so dont not go to Walmer or anywhere else on the chance.

Perhaps I’ll write a line tomorrow.

Venetia

Why dont you ever write to me, damn you? Even if only to curse me it gives me something to collect when I go for my letters. Just going out 9·15.

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Written in pencil. Written at the London Hospital, Whitechapel.

{1} This is the earliest extant letter in which Venetia addressed Montagu in this way.

{2} She had probably been to Montagu’s house for tea. See A1/104.

Pensione Palumbo, Ravello, prov. di Salerno, Italy.- Is writing to her instead of to his father, as he intended, since 'Bessie has rather a chill' though he thinks not a serious one, and has gone to bed. She 'often has these feverish chills, and if she goes to bed in time they seldom become serious'; Mrs Reid's doctor will see her tomorrow and Robert will let his mother know how she does. He has a chill himself, though not severe enough to send him to bed. Since the weather is 'very fine, though still a little coldish out of the sun', he expects Bessie will recover soon. They have had 'dreadful weather until two days ago, in various forms'.

Asks her to thank his father for his speech, which they 'both appreciated very much'; will write to him about it soon. The Booths [Charles and Meg] are arriving on the 29th. Some 'rather nice people' are here, the Omonds: 'free-churchers of Edinburgh', though they no longer live there' thinks he [Thomas] was until recently a don at Oxford, and he has written a book 'on the theory and science of metres, a dull enough subject to most people' but of 'great interest' to Robert. Finds him 'practically the only theorist on metre' he agrees with, so of course has much to discuss with him. Tells his mother that 'the fiscal question is nothing as compared with the great metrical question, in difficulty and intricacy,' though he will not claim in importance.

His play [The Birth of Parzival] comes out soon, and the publishers have sent him a copy, which seems alright; his mother may think 'the print a little too high up the page', has doubts himself, but would rather that than too low. The price is to be three shillings and sixpence, as two and sixpence would not cover costs. Has dedicated it to Bertie Russell, who has given him 'much advice and encouragement'; Russell has been 'very critical', too, but so is Robert 'now at least'. Expects people will say that 'though in form a play, it is not really dramatic, and perhaps should have been treated more frankly as a poetical narrative'.

Has no message from Bessie, as he has left her to sleep, but his mother must not be anxious about her; thinks she will only need a day or two in bed. Will write again tomorrow.

Larkbeare, Cumnor Hill, Oxford. - Thanks Trevelyan for his letter; will be home again on 9 December, and it would be a 'great pleasure' to see Trevelyan and 'talk over the Poetry Annual' ["An Annual of New Poetry, published in 1917], though as he said to [Wilfrid] Gibson there is 'only a slight chance' he will be able to contribute. Asks Trevelyan to suggest a time and place in London to meet, or whether he would come to Anerley [the suburb where de la Mare lived].

Contains: poem, "The Flycatcher", by Sylvia Lynd; "Sicily" by S. S. [Sylvia Sprigge]; "Intellectual Conversation" by Arthur Waley, which mentions Maynard [Keynes], Francis [Birrell], Hugh Dalton, Roger Fry, Gerald [Shove] and Sebastian [Sprott]; sketch in memory of Edmund [not Edward, as on cover] Gosse by Max Beerbohm; poem, "Lying Among the Yellow Flowers", by Kenneth Hopkins; poem, "Complaint", by Diana Lodge.

They are both [he and Georgie] wearing their 'flannel shirts now', which are 'very comfortable. The parson preached 'a Conservative speech about disestablishment (rather out of place where it was)', and they 'all laughed about it afterwards' since he 'kept calling the party for disestablishment robbers'. They had their paper-chase last Wednesday, but it rained [portion of text obscured by tape here]. Supposes everything will be taken to Grosvenor Crescent from Ennismore Gardens if the latter is to be let, and that it will be all right to send letters there. Does not think he needs 'anything particular'. Adds a postscript saying they are now reading Cicero and Horace; likes Cicero, though it is 'rather hard'.

With carbon copy of reply from R. A. Butler,

On voluntary schools

On A.G.F. Farquhar

On China

Press cuttings about RAB as Chancellor of the Exchequer: 1953 and 1954 Budgets, U.S.A. and Canadian talks March 1953, International Monetary Fund and International Bank talks in U.S.A. Oct 1954, U.S.A. interview on 'trade not aid' policy, Mansion House speech 1953, Commonwealth Finance Ministers Conference in Sydney, Australia. Also Glasgow Unionists Association meeting, Conservative Party Annual Conference including 1954 'invest in success' speech, reports of conferment of Honorary Doctorates of Laws from Nottingham and Bristol Universities with letter from Winston Churchill to Sydney Butler about Bristol ceremony, Honorary Freedom of Saffron Walden, Silver Jubilee as an M.P., Companionship of Honour, Essex shows etc.; speech notes for Leeds Chamber of Commerce; menus and table plans; original letter to Lady Butler from ?Lefty, Connecticut; original cartoon of RAB by Aziz of Karachi and many press cartoons; press cuttings on death of Lady Butler with appreciation from magazine of St George's School, Edinburgh, death of Sydney Butler and memorial service, marriage of Susan Portal and James Batten; photographs of Bristol Honorary Degree ceremony

Writes from Sorel [Quebec] - Is enjoying herself with her family, thanks him for his hospitality in Stratford and the invitation to his play.

Congratulations on engagement.

Letter of acceptance for the 1905 Apostles' dinner.

Visit of Lady and Jane Langdale, Jane Langdale's articles on Garibaldi for The Westminster Review, thanks for battledore

Thanks WW for his book ['Of the Plurality of Worlds: An Essay', 1854]: 'I have read it with deep feeling - and if I may use the liberty of saying so must profess to believe that it is a book which cannot fail greatly to modify generally received opinions, even if it should not lead to the adoption of a belief altogether differing from that which has prevailed in modern times'.