No surviving envelope]
[? Fri. 31 May/1 June]
ILister (caretaker at 24 Russell Square, formerly Faber's butler);a2 shall be in again on Monday morning to pack a suitcase for my stay at Lister’s Hostel. You have no need to turn out before or upon my arrival, but in case you have gone –
Willtravels, trips and plansEH's 1934–5 year in Europe;b4EH's June 1935 London sortie;d8 you meet me at your Green Tea Room at 1.30 for lunch – not necessarily there, but a convenient place to meet, à mi-chemin. But what with trooping and one thing and another you may find another place better, and in any case ring me up at Faber’s and tell Miss Swan that I wish to be called out of my committee to speak to you.
IHale, Emilyvisit to the Russian ballet;f5 suggest dinnerSadler's Wells Theatre;b1 at the Etoile before Sadlers’ Wells. You come back to Grenville Place and get a rest in the afternoon, and I will call for you by 6,30.
Lunch Tuesday, place to be arranged.
Dinner Wednesday? I hope so. IHale, Emilyand TSE attend 1066 And All That;f7 have changed 1066 tickets from Tuesday to Wednesday.
The black dress? with or without Woolworths? Dinner jacket.
Thursday. Is going to be rather a squeeze. You see I must come back to Grenville Place (probably) for change of clothes – IOldham, Joseph;a9 have to takeUniversal Christian Council for Life and Workmeeting to discuss;a2 the early train back to London Friday in order to lunch with Joe Oldham – Council at 5.00 – andMurder in the Cathedral1935 Canterbury Festival production;d7in rehearsal;a1 then take a train to Canterbury for rehearsal, missing dinner – and back to London the next morning. But I think it can be managed.
WhatPerkins, Dr John Carroll (EH's uncle)novelty birthday-present suggested for;b9 would Dr. Perkins like as a birthday present? There is a very nice beermug novelty, which has a musical box concealed in it, which plays ‘D’ye ken John Peel?’ when you lift it.
TheAuden, Wystan Hugh ('W. H.')The Dog Beneath the Skin (with Isherwood);d5 Dog Beneath the Skin is for you. I shan’t tell you what I think of it until I hear what you think of it. Africa Dances seems an interesting book, at any rate a successful book:1 and I thought it might be of interest to Campden, if you have room for it.
The9 Grenville Place, LondonEH's sojourns at;b2 pink nailbrush on window sill is for you to use. No one has used it but me, and me only 2ce. Soap and bath powder on top of bathroom cupboard, no one uses these but me.
You are not to touch the photographs.
Elizabeth is looking forward to your coming, and either she or Mary will have the latchkey to give you.
ThanksCheetham, Revd Eric;b2 for writing to FATHER Cheetham – but not Cheatham, please.
What about scent-spray?
Samesmokingbedside cigarettes;b2 [?sc. Some] cigarettes beside bed. I have ordered breakfast glass of milk for you: see that you get it.
‘Seriously’, as you say, I am worried about your getting overtired – I don’t mean in London, but in Campden. So I want you to come back to Grenville Place and rest every afternoon while you are in London.
Recevez, Madamoiselle, l’assurance de mon profond respect.
Ton serviteur
1.Geoffrey Gorer, Africa Dances: A Book about West African Negroes (F&F, 1935).
10.W. H. AudenAuden, Wystan Hugh ('W. H.') (1907–73), poet, playwright, librettist, translator, essayist, editor: see Biographical Register.
4.RevdCheetham, Revd Eric Eric Cheetham (1892–1957): vicar of St Stephen’s Church, Gloucester Road, London, 1929–56 – ‘a fine ecclesiastical showman’, as E. W. F. Tomlin dubbed him. TSE’s landlord and friend at presbytery-houses in S. Kensington, 1934–9. See Letters 7, 34–8.
1.AnneMrs Lister (wife of 'Lister') Ridler, Memoirs, 122, onLister (caretaker at 24 Russell Square, formerly Faber's butler) Mr and Mrs Lister, the caretaker and his wife at 24 Russell Square: ‘Lister had been butler to the Fabers at their house in Frognal, and used to regale me (when I stayed late at the office) with stories of his experience there and at the Front in the First World War […] Lister was critical of his employers: “I think you Miss might have more sense in running this place than what they do.” Now he and his wife had twins, and occupied the top floor of No. 24.’
8.JosephOldham, Joseph (‘Joe’) Houldsworth Oldham (1874–1969), missionary, adviser, organiser: see Biographical Register.
3.DrPerkins, Dr John Carroll (EH's uncle) John Carroll Perkins (1862–1950), Minister of King’s Chapel, Boston: see Biographical Register.