Emily Hale to Willard Thorp
Concord, Mass. 01742
I am sure that Margaret and you have had me much in mind, as I have had you in my thoughts, since the news from London on Jan. 4th. I have never known these last two to three years how grievously ill he has been; thereHinkley, Eleanor Holmes (TSE's first cousin)informs EH of TSE's health;f8 were second hand reports of failing health, trips to warmer climates, etc, but only last autumn did Eleanor Hinkley tell me – at a luncheon party in Cambridge – of his very unhappy physical condition. So, all who knew, cannot but be grateful the body and spirit have been released. It seems very sad and one of life’s incomprehensibles that such a mind should have been continually waging a fight against the body! but one reads of the same struggle in the lives of hundreds of other ‘greats’, of course. TheEliot, Esmé Valerie (née Fletcher, TSE's second wife)admired by TSE's family;d6 family in Cambridge – I have only seen E.E.H. once – can not speak highly enough of Valerie’s complete devotion in every way since the marriage.
IHale, Emilyreacts to TSE's death;v3 have not the time, nor the clear thinking to put into words on paper, the many reactions, conflicting and otherwise, which have been stirred – perhaps more than I realized possible – since the physical end of T’s life.
OneHale, Emilycorrespondence with TSE;w3EH instructs Princeton to discard 'recording';k8 reactionThorps, thepushing EH to write autobiography;f7Thorp, Margaret (née Farrand)
At the time when I came to so record the strange story, I did it with great personal difficulty, against my own best judgement. I tried to follow you and M. as objectively as I could in doing the recording, as of future historical worth, etc, etc. and only since two weeks ago have all the first reactions come to the surface [illegible]. I feel that the letters alone give enough evidence of so abnormal (or is it normal) a story – and for the sake of my caring for him, as friend and a loved one – I should not underline the miscarriage, so to speak, of what seemed be so perfect a solution to the long years of waiting for happiness.
It might not have been happy, or right, had the relationship been consummated, and I must always remember I was unaware of the complexities of both the situation and his nature – or ready to believe in a side I knew so well of his nature. Be what it may, I hope you and M. can realize I shrink from the intimacy of the personal disclosure – whether anyone throws me a line 50 years from now!
I shall have to depend upon your continuing kindness in all this affair of the gift, to tell me this change of plan should be handled, now, while you and kind kind Bill Dix are living, or in a memorandum you [illegible word] honoured when the trust is ended.
IHale, Emilycorrespondence with TSE;w3EH ultimately respects TSE's wishes;k9 think the term cannot ever be less than 50 years, Willard, because of Valerie – remember she is just over 40 and likely to outlive us all.
I am happy I can very honestly say I am thankful she was his so devoted companion these last years. I have no feeling of anything else towards her – nor any feeling about it except to accept it all without any bitterness or unkind thoughts.
I shall try to go to this service, if weather permits. We have just had very heavy, very cold snow and temperatures. I wait eagerly and hopefully your reply to this. My own copy of the biography will of course be destroyed also.
7.EsméEliot, Esmé Valerie (née Fletcher, TSE's second wife) Valerie Fletcher (1926–2012) started work as TSE’s secretary on 12 Sept. 1949, and became his second wife on 10 Jan. 1957; after his death in Jan. 1965, his literary executor and editor: see 'Valerie Eliot' in Biographical Register.
5.EleanorHinkley, Eleanor Holmes (TSE's first cousin) Holmes Hinkley (1891–1971), playwright; TSE’s first cousin; daughter of Susan Heywood Stearns – TSE’s maternal aunt – and Holmes Hinkley: see Biographical Register.