"Before breakfast".

Re Carpenter's Sex-Love and union.

"Before dinner". Attached to this letter is "a letter to the members and friends of the West London Ethical Society. From Stanton Coit. October, 1894."

When they get to Germany, Alys says, they must spend all their spare money on opera tickets; and go to Dresden, too. Logan asks that BR pay Logan's Paris rent, 139 francs. BR owes Alys for the money that she paid father for his board.

Alys is worried that they won't be married in December or early January.

The letter continues on "Saturday". Following this letter is a genealogical chart of the descendants of Mary Whitall and James Carey Thomas.

Alys asked Mariechen's children to be bridesmaids.

"Friday morning". Following this letter is a document that Alys has copied out. It begins "Once O. said that for a woman...."; 10 sheets. It is by Mary Costello Berenson (as she became).

Attached to this letter is a newsclipping about "Miss Willard and Lady Henry Somerset".

Some "Bostonians" have gone, whist and smoking being interdicted during their presence.

"I hoped being in Paris would convert thee to the divided skirts" for cycling.

"Monday morning"

Alys wants BR to go to the Comédie Française in the evening. Mariechen will mail his Louvre catalogue today.

"Monday evening".

She explains Obrist's point of view.

"Plague it", she says.

On taking back her past remarks.

"Thurs. morning".

Alys has not yet had time to read BR's essay abstract.

"10.30 a.m."

Alys is in charge of 22 boys who are drawing.

"10 a.m."

When BR comes over to go to Cambridge, Alys is concerned that BR not see his grandmother—until everything is arranged for the wedding, including the application forms.

"Friday afternoon". The letter continues on "Sat. morning".

Alys prefers an economics paper for a Fellowship, as it seems more immediately useful.

"Saturday after lunch".

Alys read BR's essay to "the assembled company". Another essay is in BR's desk "here". [There is no hint of the subject matter, except that it is difficult.]

"Sunday morning".

Alys would like to say "my dearest boy".

"Sunday evening". The letter continues on "Monday morning".

BR's journal has arrived. "Thy mind is absurdly abstract, and mine couldn't be more concrete than it is."

"Monday after lunch".

Alys will go to P.L. with BR at some time. They won't like him staying with her family on the 17th.

She mentions a Mrs. Duke whose husband saved a young doctor from a dissolute life.

She has BR's essay on rule and end and Wagner extracts from the journal.

"Tuesday morning".

Re Frank Russell: "He is a dreadfully oppressive person, and fills up the whole horizon in such an exacting way."

"8:15 p.m."

Alys describes Mary Naylor: "She is a Bohemian of Bohemians...."

"Wednesday morning".

Alys felt awkwardness when BR came up from Cambridge last November upon her return from America.

"Thursday morning". Following this letter are several newsclippings, which Alys says she was sending separately.

The review of Lionel Johnson's book should interest Frank, she says. Another clipping concerns the two Llewelyn Davies brothers getting Fellowships. (The clipping is not sourced.)

Alys says there is an extract from Bernard Shaw on the empire, but it is not present. Instead, there is a long article ("not bad") titled "Of Conversation".

"Thursday after lunch". Attached to this letter is a partial typescript on bringing up children. It isn't referred to in the letter.

Alys notes that Frank is afraid of BR.

"Friday morning".

Alys writes about Dora (probably Bühler): "She is devoted to thee and so discreet".

"Friday evening".

BR's letter today is no. 80. Bernard Shaw is mentioned.

Alys has talked more with Miss B. (probably Bühler). She suddenly "brot" (Alys's spelling, like "thot") the subject of preventive checks (birth control). She is thinking of marrying someone with a low income and they could not see having children for at least 2 years.

Following this letter is a newsclipping about Lord Egmont's eviction of a poor farmer from his half acre.

Alys mentions "thy brother in his complications with Mabel". Frank "was an awful fool to let himself be caught by such a girl."

"Sunday afternoon". In 1894, 22 October was a Monday. The letter continues in the "evening".

The next record (123631) contains a letter written on Monday evening, 22 October.

Alys continues her reading of a book by Webb. There seems very little to write in the journal now.

"Monday evening".

Alys had a charming German lesson.

"Tuesday afternoon".

"It is very naughty of thee not to give people the benefit of thy brains in conversation."

"Tuesday evening".

The Webbs want Alys to run for the West Vestry with them. The election is Dec. 15th, so she would need to be married on the 14th. Should she be voted on as Miss Pearsall Smith or Mrs. Russell?

"Wednes. morning".

More about Alys standing for the Vestry.

"Wednes. afternoon".

Mariechen and Helen Thomas are to be in Paris, and BR will have great fun [with them].

"Thurs. morning".

Alys is sending the books by Wundt and Sigwart, but can't find the Erdmann.

"Thurs. before lunch".

Alys quotes a personal note from the Webbs' book that she is reading.

"Friday morning".

Alys believes now that she and BR should not have spared Lady Russell's feelings as they have. She has hurt Alys.

"Friday afternoon".

Alys wants to know everything BR feels, whether she agrees with them or not.

"Saturday morning".

Mariechen thinks she will travel back to Paris with BR on Sunday night, Nov. 4th. Alys seems to prefer it if Mariechen would give up Berenson.

"Saturday afternoon".

Alys has read BR's paper on the passions. She returns it with a clipping:

Hannah Whitall Smith, "A Hindu Heroine: a Sketch of Rukhmabai", The Woman's Signal, 25 Oct. 1894, plus a cartoon of a woman cyclist and a Jewish peddler.

"9:30 a.m."

Alys will write out the rough draft of her paper on Karl Pearson.

"5.15 p.m. Sunday". The letter continues on "Monday 10 a.m."

Alys asks what BR meant exactly by his remarks "about Bradley's conception of spirit".

"Monday afternoon".

Evelyn (?) is to accompany Mariechen when she meets up with BR. Alys thinks children ought to belong to the mother.

"Tues. morning".

Frank wrote an article on the topic of advanced women, it seems; it is not bad.

BR's books and things are packed up.

"Tuesday afternoon". She adds a note the following day, "I didn't post my letter this morning because I was out of stamps".

On Sunday they will be tantalizingly close, as Alys is going to no. 44.

"Wednes. morning".

Mariechen "is determined to make thee read Nietszche." The family feels Obrist will be another Berenson for her.

"Wednes. evening".

Lion wants to meet BR at King's X and drive to Victoria with him; then come to dinner with Alys and tell her all about BR.

"Thurs. morning".

"Thy aunt's letter is better than I expected." BR's 100th letter arrived. Soon her box will be too full to hold any more.

"Thurs. evening".

"My wedding-dress is a dream of beauty."

Alys has "changed all my views on the woman question."

"I expect thee is in a terribly excited state now, and will probably talk all thy friends deaf."

"Sunday afternoon". [A photograph was enclosed with this letter but it is almost impossible to see; it should be better on the microfilm.] Alys calls it "an old photograph group".

"Sunday evening".

BR has had his trip to Cambridge.

"Monday afternoon".

Alys mentions "McTaggart's reconciliation".

"Monday evening after the Club".

"I have nothing to say, but I must write."

"Tues. morning". "I hope my intellect will improve for thy sake."

BR is ill.

"Tuesday evening". Mariechen's letter is "all about thee".

Frank accepts Alys's invitation. He writes on the letterhead of Russell & Co., Electrical Engineers and Contractors, 11, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., although the letter is personal. He complains that "Bertie is so uncommunicative!"

"As you're going so soon to be my sister-in-law, don't you think we might begin Xtian names?"

On a meeting to see Lady Russell.

"Wednes. morning".

Alys's mother thinks they ought to spend a night at Pembroke Lodge.

"Thee may fall in love with her [Mariechen] as much as thee likes, but I shall be mad if she converts thee to Nietszche."

"Wednesday evening".

Alys was "enchanted" with Evelyn's house this morning: a perfect view of the river and yet near the station and a pillar box. (Was this the Millhangar?)

"Thursday morning".

Helen Thomas and Lucy Donnelly are mentioned.

"3.30 p.m. Thursday".

Alys quotes her reply to "H.P." [Human Perfection], by which meant Aunt Agatha Russell. There are slightly earlier references to H.P.

"2 p.m." They are to spend a couple of nights at Pembroke Lodge.

Alys likes the idea of doing historical research in cooperation with BR.

"Friday evening"

She met Frank, who seemed surprised that Alys did not see BR during his brief trip back to England.

Miss Stanley approves the Quaker wedding, no reception, and going abroad at once. With anxiety she asked about relations with Lady Russell.

Alys encloses (not present) a letter from Logan about Philip Morrell's engagement being broken off.

"Sunday morning".

People who know the circumstances of Frank Russell and Mariechen will be surprised that Alys and BR have embarked on marriage.

Alys is sure Mariechen has asked BR for his views on chastity.

"6.10 p.m. Sunday".

Alys reports on her visit to Pembroke Lodge. Dora [Buhler] met her at the door. H.P. was there. [An outstanding letter about the wedding arrangements.]

Alys sends photographs.

BR has been to hear the 5th Symphony.

"If thee urges me to give up practical work, I shall urge thee to go into parliament, so there!!"

"10.45 a.m."

Alys refers to the poet, Hayes.

"2.30 p.m."

A letter that reveals her hurt: "I found thy letter when I got back here at four, and it made me so miserable that I tore it up." She discusses the influence on her of Frank Russell's conversation and of Mariechen's on BR.

"12 midnight". The letter continues on "Thurs. morning, Nov. 15th".

Enclosed with this letter are cards advertising Temperance events in which Alys will participate on 14 and her mother on 15 November.

"Thy letter is lovely, and it makes me much happier."

"... it makes me miserable to feel that perhaps I haven't the right sort of nature or talents to make thee happy."

Friends' life insurance will be available to BR once he marries Alys.

Enclosed with Alys's letter of 21 November, record 123678.

"Wednesday 2 p.m."

Alys refers to her misery a week ago. "I was a fool, and I deserved all Mariechen's advice."

"Wednesday evening".

Alys encloses a letter on "the advantages of marrying a friend!" See record 123676.

In three weeks today they will be married.

"Friday 2.30 p.m."

On the suffering of her friend Evelyn, who apparently is in love with a married man in America.

"I derive constant pleasure from your Weekly."

"Saturday morning".

On BR's unselfishness.

"12.45 Saturday".

On Evelyn and her lover.

On arrangements for the wedding, Aunt Maude opposing an invitation to Cobden-Sanderson and Aunt Agatha not, and Frank having quarrelled with him.

"It was very nice seeing Bertie the other day, he seemed so well and jolly, and Paris has imparted a nameless grace to his demeanour...." Alys commented in the margin: "?! not at all."

Their banns were read out at Quaker meeting this morning.

Alys's going on the Vestry has become known.

"The Church of England ceremony is too disgusting for words."

On whether "The Honourable" should go in the invitations: Lady Russell opposes this, others favour it.

On "The Honourable" in the invitations to the wedding.

"Tuesday afternoon".

Alys asks if BR said that Evelyn ought to let herself go and be happy openly.

"Tuesday 4 p.m."

More on "The Honourable". Aunt Maude disparaged Lady Russell's "Parnellite advisors".

"Tuesday 9 p.m." Following this letter is a copy of the invitation to BR and Alys's wedding. The top part of the card has not been copied; the invitation is made out to BR in Alys's hand.

The bother about the invitations: "It is such a splendid chance of seeing thy relations pitted against each other."

The letter is located at the rear of three letters that Alys wrote to BR on 27 November 1894.

Agatha concludes that "The Honourable" was omitted.

This letter is marked as a "copy"; it may have been a draft as there are a number of corrections in it.

"The Honourable" is in for fear of censure of the Smiths' American origins or their democratic ideas.

They have been separated again—2 1/2 days to go.

Evidently she enclosed her letter to Lady Russell with this letter. See record 123692.

Enclosed by Alys with her letter of 29 Nov., record 123695.

Frank writes about the upcoming wedding: "I will support Bertie with pleasure on the great day: tho' I confess I am rather afraid of the whole thing, which has to my Tory mind something irregular and dissenting about it. I shall never believe it legal!"

"Keep" is written in the upper left-hand corner of his Amberley Cottage, Maidenhead notepaper.

Frank is contesting an election.

"Thurs. 3 p.m."

See record 123694 for Frank's letter.

Alys wants her abstract of the Webbs' book to give to her mother. She points out that this is American Thanksgiving Day.

"Thursday evening 10.30"

This is her last letter during the extra separation. She will come to Victoria Station on Saturday.

Alys has written a note to Bertie across the top.

Granny corrects Alys unnecessarily on the matter of titles.

This card is found at the end of the November 1894 letters. It is on the same sheet as a card of 4 November 1894.

About BR and use of "Honourable".

This card is found at the end of the November 1894 letters. It is on the same sheet as a card of 27 November 1894, record 123698.

Lady Russell invites Alys to stay overnight.

This card is found on the same sheet as a card from Countess Russell, record 123699. It is at the end of the November 1894 letters.

"The number of presents is awful". [To judge from her letters, people would call and leave their wedding gift.]

Part of this letter is BR's wedding vow to Alys, written in Alys's hand and including the words "promising through divine assistance".

The pieces of this letter include some later pages that don't fit with the 1894/12/04 beginning to the letter; probably they belong to other letters.

The sender's signature is obscure, but it seems to match a name on the letterhead. She writes from the "Social Purity Department".

The sub-committee congratulates Alys on her upcoming marriage.