Pièce 90 - Letter from Sophie Weisse to Elizabeth Trevelyan

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Northlands, Englefield Green, Surrey. - Apologises for not writing sooner to thank Bessie for her kindness to Donald [Tovey]; hopes she has heard from him in the meantime. She is still in 'agony' about his symphony; there is an 'obstinate place in the "Second Subject"' and she would find it very interesting to see him 'wrestling with it' if she were not so worried about the date; he has gone off cheerfully to Aachen again 'with the fragment of Symphony in his hand'. They had an 'enchanting little visit to [George] Henschel at Aviemore'; encourages Bessie to come to the concert at Northlands on 23 October when Henschel is singing. Has had a 'rather heartshaking correspondence with Guilhermina Suggia' who says that she and [Pablo] Casals have parted on good terms; she was in England all August and September, and very much wanted to come to Northlands but 'that could not be', though she has not lost her 'tenderness and anxiety for her'. Told Suggia plainly that 'Donald is ready for friendship with Casals' and her 'lies and the way in which she broke up the friendship between the two men' means that 'Donald is quite unapproachable for her'. Wishes very much she had not let the matter be 'taken out of her hands' as she did.