Alys wants BR to take the Halévys to lunch tomorrow in Soho and supper with Evelyn next Sunday.

When they are under the same roof soon, she will have to sleep alone. "Thee won't mind going into the last resort, will thee?"

BR is working very hard.

The doctor says Alys' rheumatism has a nervous origin.

"Thee will be a man of action by the time I emerge, and I shall have nothing to do."

The doctor does not want her to go home.

She wonders if writing to Halévy in French made BR dream in French. She is glad he is "unemotional", too.

"I am answering her [Aunt Maude] and telling her that thee is working too hard to go to the coronation. Though if thy mind is filled with "classes", thee would find the coronation a very classy affair."

BR has sent her a generous cheque (she asked for £2).

"I was growing very near to the ridiculous delusion that thee no longer cared for me."

Alys quotes a passage from Walpole's description of his friend, Mr. Chute, and asks BR to ask Evelyn if it is not a fairly good description of BR.

"His impatience seemed to proceed from his vast sense, not from his temper: he saw everything so clearly and immediately, that he could not bear a momentary contradiction from folly or defective reasoning. Sudden contempt broke out, particularly on politics.... His truth, integrity, honour, spirit and abhorrence of all dirt, confirmed his contempt.... His possession of the quintessence of argument reduced it at once into axioms, and the clearness of his ideas struck out flashes of the brightest wit."

It is part of Walpole's description of his friend, Mr. Chute, after his death, Alys says. BR replied on May 11: "I think it is exactly like me."

"Mother sends me a constant shower of postcards...."

Alys writes again against the idea of going to Switzerland.

BR approved of Walpole's description of Mr. Chute as applied to himself.

"That novel about Frank, too, was filthy, and horribly like him in some traits."

"Good luck to the variable, which also dominates my health."

"I am better again, as thee can always tell when I make improper jokes."

"It is very interesting that thy book is nearly done. Exactly when does thee expect to finish it?"

She will not write of her ups and downs again.

"I am glad thee is working like a niger."

Alys is reading "The Fairie Queene".

Alys knows exactly why she received various letters when she did. [The Russells' knowledge of the postal system was masterful.]

Dr. Boyle calls BR "the most brilliant young man in England".

BR still has 2 months to go on his book. For his birthday she has bought him a new little book list. "I have left the Carlyles for thee to enter, as we have read them at the same time."

Alys got angry with her doctor over not being allowed to see BR.

At the end of the letter is Alys's next address in BR's hand:

Birchwood Cottage
Burgess Hill
Sussex

Her writing to BR has to be on the surface. "It is dreadful to think that I have known nothing that has been going on in thy mind for four months (I think that first awful day at Cambridge was Jan. 18th), and it will take months of conversation to catch up again."

"I know it is difficult for thee to write gossip, but I should like to hear how Jane and Beatrice got on."

Old and ill Leslie Stephen, whom Logan visited, is going to read BR's book, "which will finish him", adds Logan.

"I have really learnt some of thy Aristocratic feelings, and their dining-room is sordid beyond words, hideous room, dirty table-cloth, door open...."

"My idea of happiness is a winter alone with thee in the country...."

[Again there is a mention of Evelyn; she frequently appears in these separation letters.]

"It is very good of thee to say that perhaps I have not spoiled thy book."

"It seems dangerous, thy making such tremendous efforts, but thee must do what Moloch demands. That would have been such a nice dedication—pity mathematicians are not more subtle and understanding."

"Tell Evelyn that Philip and Lady Ottoline have been seen walking along the embankment hand in hand. I love to think of Philip being so happy."

Alys is concerned that BR is flogging his intellect too hard.

Alys has the "perfectly delightful news" that BR's book, The Principles of Mathematics, is finished.

It can be said in BR's biography that the book was written before he was 30, "thy last time of being an infant prodigy".

They are neither of them "well enough to be together yet", but perhaps in 3 weeks, Alys hopes.

"I am glad thee has given up thinking and taken to reading." She supposes he is taking his manuscript to the Syndics today.

The summer school run by Lady Henry Somerset has had to be given up because of "the coronation. If I had been well, I could not have helped it without killing the King." (Edward VII's Coronation took place 9 August 1902.)

"Birchwood Cottage".

Alys suspects Dr. Boyle of suspecting that she meets BR clandestinely on her walks.

"Burgess Hill"

"Fancy the press beginning to print thy book at once!"

Alys thought it would be nice if they accepted Helen's invitation to the US, but "thee will never want to do proofs from America again." (Presumably German Social Democracy is not meant but rather The Foundations of Geometry.)

Alys is worried that BR has continued to work and not start resting.

She often mentions Logan's recently published Trivia, which BR is reading.

Beatrice Webb has offered to go to Switzerland with Alys. Alys would hate it, she says.

Alys has got Dr. Boyle, as an experiment, to invite BR to a meeting with Alys soon.

Alfred North Whitehead is mentioned. So is Beatrice Webb and the nature of time spend with her.

The Boer War is over.

Alys saw the news of Theodore (Llewelyn Davies)'s appointment.

Alys does not feel she could discuss food and Wells's novels with Beatrice Webb for a week.

BR has written alternative train times on the front of this card. They are for travelling to a meeting with Alys.

Dr. Duke will send a cheque for about £15. The interest is about £20, due in April, but he deducts his fees for attendance.

Details about their upcoming meeting.

Mrs. Darby and Alys discussed whether men should confess their pasts to their wives.

Alys is very happy that she will soon meet BR.

"Evening".

Alys enjoyed her horseback riding.

Now Alys favours travelling with Beatrice.

"Be sure to bring the specimen page of thy book with thee."

They have been separated for 51 days—a mistake for her, she's sure, but not for BR.

Alys is excited at the prospect of seeing BR.

Alys will drive to meet BR, presumably at the station.

Alys is sorry for her tears, but being with BR again was a great event. "It was everything to me just seeing thee look so well and kind."

"Take home plenty of cash to pay the servants' wages."

Alys writes a lot of their moves and reasons for them.

"Thee spoke of so many changes in thy attitude towards things on Saturday that thy letters had given me no indication of, and I felt as if I could hardly follow thee, it all seemed so new."

Dr. Boyle is glad BR did not see the "living skeleton" where Alys is staying.

Evidently BR would prefer to avoid Mariechen and Bernard Berenson, just as they prefer to avoid the coronation.

Alys wants to give BR a set of Maeterlinck. She lists the titles they have.

She encloses the wages sheet (not present) and gives instructions.

Wedd.

Alys describes the plight of a new patient in the nursing home.

Alys continues to have depression.

Alys is holding back BR's letter to her mother about Friday's Hill, at his request.

She has ordered the Maeterlincks.

Alys knows a widower who was one of Frank's junior counsels last year.

"I am delighted with thy poem about wives."

They are meeting again next Saturday.

Alys mentions that her birthday is the 21st, presumably July.

Plenty is sent to Madams.

Her massage adds about 10 guineas to the 50 she has to pay Dr. Boyle.

BR is to bring her cheque book and envelopes of unpaid bills, with all the receipts he has received in her absence.

"Tues. evening".

Alys details their rent from the Millhangar.

Alys felt well seeing her mother today. She has great hopes for their "interview" next Saturday.

Details of loans to her mother are given.

BR has written train times on the last page of this letter.

Alys asks to see a proof, and to remind her of the title he has chosen.

She is sending the "incompetent idiot" Dr. Duke a reminder.

They met. "I shall soon imagine thee on thy bicycle, with the wind blowing thee home from Chichester."

Alys expects that BR remains "cool", under the King's illness, as does she. BR would like Wells's Anticipations.

"Wednes. evening".

Two extra bank holidays.

"I feel frightened sometimes when I think how happy I have always been with thee, until I got ill, and how little I deserved it."

[There are no letters in the Russell Archives between Alys and BR from 28 June to 8 September, inclusive.]

Alys thanks BR for his kindness the past few days—a great comfort.

Alys describes Berenson's new diet to put on weight (a raw egg and a glass of milk 5 times a day between meals). He likes the Hippolytus very much.

BR will be writing tomorrow or Saturday to 14 Cheyne Walk.

The Berensons have sold another picture to Mrs. Gardiner by which they will make £2,500 and can pay off their debts of £1,100.

Alys will bicycle to Pembroke Lodge to tea on Sunday.

She hopes to find BR's letter at 14 (Cheyne Walk) this evening.

"Thee was not needed at all in the moving...." Alys uses letterhead of 14, Cheyne Walk, Chelsea, S.W.

"The view of the river is most beautiful...."

Alys reports on her visit to Aunt Agatha at Pembroke Lodge.

"Please write only about surface things." BR writing about resignation made her worse. "I would much rather have broken down in the Hague than feel now that I spend eight years doing harm to thee. It is more terrible than anything."

Alys is concerned about BR staying away, making a long separation.

"Many thanks for thy first letter of yesterday...."

A dining club is mentioned, doubtless the Coefficients.

"Wednesday morning".

Visiting the Mill House will be traumatic for Alys, but she wants to get the first time over with. She knows his letter was meant to be kind, but it had a terrible effect on her. The cat at 14 is called "The Sage".

"There is no letter from thee this morning...."

"Miss (Dr.) [Gertrude] Stein recommends" a milk diet for Alys. She will not be going to Cambridge.

"Thurs. afternoon". Alys has misdated this letter 17 September 1902, which was a Wednesday.

Now Alys is on the raw egg and milk diet.

"The money has come from Child's".

Alys is resigning from the Training College Council at Cambridge, to which Evelyn got her elected.

"It was terrible to have to seem so unloving and so ungrateful to thee, but it seems to be my last defense against such tortures, and yet it is the last straw of my misery to know that I am such a worry. Forgive me!"

BR's letter is an unexpected pleasure.

She would like to have a telegram this evening, "if at all possible", about whether Evelyn cares to have her.

Apparently Alys is working somewhere (perhaps for an exposé).

Dr. Boyle has given Alys an arsenic and iron tonic.

Two appointments: B. Creighton and dinner with the Davieses.

"No. 3 to-day".

Dickinson on Friday.

[Alys signs herself "A.W.R.", which would expand to "Alys Whitall Russell".]

Alys is going to speak on the rope factory.

Alys describes her depression: "Thee has no idea of the terrible misery of that black cloud...."

Train times are written in BR's hand on the last page of this letter.

She will meet Lady Ottoline Morrell at lunch, for the first time, at last.

BR is in Devon.

"Westminster".

Apparently Alys moved out of 14, Cheyne Walk yesterday.

The "inventory man" said they had done unusually little damage.

BR is working with Whitehead.

"Important.

I. Send me the address of Jane's architects.
II. Borrow the Whiteheads' Normandy guide book, if they have one.

I hope that you are getting on well with Vol. II, and that Alfred still believes in thy solution."

Alys lists their engagements for Sundays in June.

She had an amusing lunch with the Webbs.

She likes [Bagley Wood architect] Fletcher's plan very much: "It gives thee a study 28 x 12 ft., and a charming shape." [Though this is not the Bagley Wood project.]

Alys mentioned BR's proposed Maeterlinck article to Gilbert Murray, which he thought an excellent idea.

From Churt: "That accursed door and window in thy room!"

Alys refers to BR's "little P.L. table". They seem to have been moving.

Fletcher sent estimates for the house he designed, totalling £950. He is disappointed not to have the building of Robert Trevelyan's house. She quotes 2 other estimates.

The Murrays are paying, evidently for the building project.

Alys has ordered for BR "the most delightful little book, Richard de Bury's Philobiblion".

BR cannot imagine how she could doubt BR's remembering her. He cannot do an opening chapter for her.

The Frys are afraid of smallpox at Cambridge.

"Erasmus's letters are rather disappointing...." Schiller.

BR settled the contract with Fletcher. Alys encloses (not present) Murray's letter about it.

She is reading Henry George. She has found a copy of the other book recommended by Theodore, Farrer's Fair Trade and Free Trade.

Alys wonders if they were mistaken in accepting Crosby's offer (to build).

She wonders also what BR has bought on the subject of free trade. Henry George is too simple.

"Lucy [Donnelly] will tell thee of our two quiet days, and of the nice visit we have been having, especially to-day."

Miss Taylor.

"I have had a busy day over sites, but have found nothing to compare with the Bagley Wood, really Radley Wood, site which we saw yesterday."

"There are great advantages here [Oxford] the way of good music, a great deal of Brahms and Bach, and I have simply lost my heart to the beautiful country, especially at Radley."

Alys likes Lower Copse better than Upper Copse at Bagley Wood.

"... moving is always a terrible expense, and the money seems to trickle away."

Henry James is quoted on Janet.

Alys expects to move into Ivy Lodge Thursday.

Alys writes more on moving to Ivy Lodge.

This is printed out on the same sheet as the 23 March card.

Fletcher approved of (Lower) Sugworth Copse. The well digger is to begin at once.