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Thank you (both) very much for a lovely lunch – I really did enjoy it, as you were so kind, and although I am still – when will I not be – so self-conscious in your company that I see myself behaving as distinctly more of the oaf than usual – there were several moments. And I was happy to see you looking better and with a good deal of colour – thoughHale, Emilyappearance and characteristics;v7EH encouraged to gain weight;a8 I think it as well that you should not be off on your own too much, as you will economise, and another week of Ladbroke Grove I am sure would shrivel you up to nothing but bones; I hope you will not be too economical on diet in Paris. I hope that you will consent to lunch with me again when you get back; and I hope that either before or after Chichester youShakespeare, WilliamRichard II;c6 willMorleys, the;c9 comeMorley, Christina (née Innes);a5 to Richard II one evening if I ask the Morleys – Christina living in the country loves an evening at the theatre. When9 Grenville Place, Londontea-party for Perkinses at;a7 you come to tea at Grenville Place IUnderhill, Evelynon TSE's Perkins tea guest-list;b3 want to ask Mrs. Stuart Moore andPerkinses, the;e7 perhaps one or two people whom your aunt & uncle would like to meet – I should like to have a younger teaparty at the Ritz.
I really am concerned about the state of affairs at the moment. ICaetani, Marguerite (née Chapin);a6 have written to Marguerite, so that if she is in Paris she will know that you are an important person, andMcPherrin, Jeanette;a7 I should like Miss McPherrin to feel that there is a nice American woman about, at least for part of the time (she usually goes back to Rome in November and returns to Paris in April, as she is really only at home in Paris and doesn’t much like Roman society).1 In case of need, you know, I should always be delighted (in a sense) to have an excuse for coming over to Paris; but I don’t see anything so exciting as that at the moment. ButItalyand Italian–Yugoslavian relations;a2 the Serbs do seem to have been relieving their feelings by an outburst of anti-Italian sentiment. IMussolini, Benitoand Yugoslavia;a1 don’t think however that Mussolini would willingly go to war; he is very astute.
I assume that you will be at the Hotel de Belmon & Bassano, Rue Bassano, and that you will be at Aban Court from Tuesday night. I do hope and trust it will all be very enjoyable.
Now I must dress up for this party of Irish diplomats – I fear there will be a lot of whisky and practical jokes. The Irish are barbarians. We are all dreading it.
1.JeanetteMcPherrin, Jeanettethanks TSE for Caetani introduction;a8n McPherrin, who was entertained by Marguerite Caetani (Bassiano) on 13 Nov. 1934, wrote to TSE on 10 Nov.: ‘Madame Bassiano is a delightful person in such an amazing variety of ways, and flowers of her species are not exactly indigenous to “the American frontier” … I am grateful, and do thank you very sincerely …
‘I have had very vivid and enthusiastic accounts [from Emily Hale] of London festivities and, however stupid I may sound, I can’t help saying that I have blessed you for them, because I think it is exactly what she needs beside the happiness it has given her.’
4.MargueriteCaetani, Marguerite (née Chapin) Caetani, née Chapin (1880–1963) – Princesse di Bassiano – literary patron and editor: see Biographical Register. LéliaCaetani, Lélia Caetani (1913–77), sole daughter, was to marry Hubert Howard (1908–87), a scion of the English Catholic House of Howard, who worked to preserve the Caetani heritage at Rome and at the castle of Sermoneta.
2.JeanetteMcPherrin, Jeanette McPherrin (1911–92), postgraduate student at Scripps College; friend of EH: see Biographical Register.
1.EvelynUnderhill, Evelyn Underhill (1875–1941), spiritual director and writer on mysticism and the spiritual life: see Biographical Register.