Item 109 - Letter from Sophie Weisse to Elizabeth Trevelyan

1 item

Northlands, Englefield Green, Surrey. - Agrees that they will do their best together to help when they can; she is now 'less stunned' [by Donald Tovey's marriage] and knows Bessie loves Donald. They must talk sometime, but thinks this would be best after Bessie has got to know Donald's wife [Grettie] well; hopes they will go to stay with the Trevelyans; they return to Edinburgh for a short time this week. Encourages Bessie to write to Grettie and invite them again. Asks why she always sees dangers so far in advance ; is 'not noble like Cassandra [in Aeschylus' Agamemnon]' but thinks she has a 'bit of her spirit' in her; quotes in Greek from the play [lines 1302-1303]. Wishes she might be 'both patient and brave-spirited'. The wedding was 'very large with pictures in the Daily Mail', but the only invitation she received was the one two days before; Donald had 'really disinvited [her] on the plea that it was to be so very quiet'; she was 'absolutely powerless from the first'. Is most grieved that he has not done any good work for at least two and a half years; asks if Bessie knows whether he has written anything. Regrets the last eleven years, his talent and imagination 'all wasting away'; would not care 'if he had a dozen wives' as long as his work went well.