Pièce 3 - Letter from Margaret Parratt and Sophie Weisse to Elizabeth Trevelyan

1 item

Northlands, Englefield Green, Surrey. - Margaret Parratt, as requested by Sophie Weisse, begins answering Bessie's letter with advice about the piano: Miss Weisse is sending Bessie the Bösendorfer catalogue, and thinks a small grand ordered from that would be satisfactory; she is writing them a note telling them to serve Bessie well and is sure they will do so. Broadwood tunes Miss Weisse's Bösendorfers; the arrangement is 'quite satisfactory' though perhaps they are not quite so careful as with their own instruments.

Miss Weisse then takes over the letter: asks Besse if she is sure she wants a Bösendorfer as she could 'induce Broadwoods' to give her 'something good at a moderate price'. Also asks if Donald [Tovey] can come to stay straight after his stay with Mrs [Ellen] Joachim, about 6 September. He needs to work, which she feels means taking breakfast in his room 'so that he keeps his own bits of wits about him before beginning this work'; he has said he would be very interested to talk to Mr Trevelyan, and much enjoys playing with Bessie: says her playing is 'the real thing'. Writes out the addresses where Tovey can be contacted over the next couple of months. Has to go to Nauheim on the 14th, and would be happy to think Donald were with the Trevelyans, is 'so miserable when he is out of sight'. Invites Bessie to visit again.