Item 73 - Letter from E. M. Forster to Elizabeth Trevelyan

1 sheet

West Hackhurst, Abinger Hammer, Dorking [headed notepaper]. - 'So pleased' to hear from Bessie; was about to write, partly to ask whether she might like to take on 'one of our pussies' when he leaves West Hackhurst - Bob thought she might. If so, he 'would describe their characteristics and their defects - for cats, unlike human beings, are imperfect. They are of the Tabby habit'.

Looks forward to seeing her, 'perhaps next month'; will bring the 'Tovey volume' [edition of Beethoven's Mass, see TRER/ADD/71], which was 'very helpful'. Is going to Cambridge again this week, to 'make some final arrangements' about his room; his move will probably be 'in two bits, the bigger bit not till October. Much has been done here, much still remains to do'. Has recently sent 'a lorry-load of jumble... off with the Rector's wife built up in the middle of it. She is a darling'.

Glad to hear of the Trevelyans' 'revised arrangements', and hopes they will work well. If Mrs Jane [?] 'is a chatterpie, Bob has only to trot, tell him, into another room. It's a chatterpie in the same room that is so trying'. Has had an 'Excited and delighted' postcard from Florence, who much enjoyed her flight across the Atlantic, and has been 'going round New York with her sister [Margaret?] in a bus'.

Is going to Glyndebourne, 'quite unexpectedly', tomorrow with some Indian friends; he 'rather hate[s] the snobby place, however, dress clothes are out of the question now, and Britten's new opera [The Rape of Lucretia] said to be very lovely'.