"My belief is still that she [Peter] will ultimately marry a man nearer her own age. I think you and I can still work together over the school*, and that ultimately our troubles will grow less."

*[Beacon Hill School.]

"Everybody, children and staff, is happy here, and I can't bear to destroy the place when it works so well."

"I have been reading Zuckerman's book that you gave me. It is very interesting. It seems the only thing peculiar about human sexuality is the possibility of rape."

"Sat. My Darling The Week-End Review, I see, printed your letter in full. It is a very good letter."

"I have a deep and indestructible affection for you, and I should be very unhappy if we became estranged. My feeling is not sexual, and that, I fear, will not revive; but the affection I feel is all the more reliable on that account."

"I have felt for a long time uncomfortable because you were so poor, and it seems to me that I can afford to give you £200 a year, beginning with £50 at midsummer."

"My Darling There is snow, and Harriet is out in it in Wellingtons, with all the others."

"My Darling I enclose a letter [not present] from Joyce's mother [Una Corbett]."

"Don't take Peter's mood at Xmas as normal. She was furious with me for having made her lose her child, and some of this fury went to you."

"But I have known since 1927 that I could never again be really happy."

"On Saturday I took the chair at a meeting about India. Lansbury, Laski, and the editor of the New Statesman."

"I am now going to lunch with the Webbs. I shall be taking my seat in the Lords in about 3 weeks. There are just two Labour Earls to introduce me; one is Kintoul, the son-in-law of the night-club lady."

"My Darling I have just had a talk with Betty about Matron."

"I hope you will get a book done. I find I can't get my book on the disruption of the 19th century done as it should be done by the end of June, and I want to write some easier book this year, keeping the other for next year."

"There is need of a book called Education and the Social Order, which I could do, but not if yours would be on a closely related subject. I could do something more connected with science. Aldous Huxley's Brave New World is an expansion of 2 chapters of my book—v. good."

"Wed. My Darling All goes well here except that there is a slight suspicion of Bradley having mumps."

"Sunday My Darling Thank you for your nice letter."

"The things that had been troubling me in regard to Peter turned out to be not very grave, and I find myself more fond of her than I have ever been before. We both wish to live together altogether as soon as she leaves Oxford."

"I have still not heard from the Hearst people as to whether my articles are to go on. If not, the school* must stop. And in any case I feel rather as if it had better not continue, as it will certainly be very hard to find the money. But if we have to give it up I shall hate it."

*[Beacon Hill School.]

"My Darling It is good that you have a boy, and that all has gone off well."

"My Darling You were very fine indeed in our talk."

"As for Carn Voel, Peter and I think of going there the week after next, and perhaps it would be simplest for us to stay there throughout the summer, in which case I would pay you £60 rent."

"It is impossible to re-establish a satisfactory common life between you and me, both because what I feel for you has no sexual element, and because I deeply love Peter and cannot face life without her."

"I think you are right that we have clung to the school as a symbol of our marriage, and, if so, there is no use in keeping it up." "... I hate to destroy it*, and I hate to think of this place without children."

*[Beacon Hill School.]

"For the sake of the children it may be wise to be divorced if the law allows; as to this, I propose to find out the legal position from Crompton [Ll. Davies]."

"I consulted Crompton on the question of divorce, and he is not sure whether it is possible, but if it is to be attempted, he says I must be the guilty party."

"My Dear I am very sorry I can't be here as I must see Crompton tomorrow, and then Peter will have to see doctors and probably go into a nursing home, which will keep me in London."

"Dear Dora Crompton had nothing new to say...."

"My Dear I have had nothing yet from Crompton."

"My Dear I am sorry you feel I have been unfriendly. I only wanted the divorce in order that children might be legitimate, not from any unfriendliness."

"So long as the school* goes on, Peter and I will wish to live here (except for part of the winter). But if the school stops, I suppose we should live at Telegraph unless it could be let or sold."

*[Beacon Hill School.]

"I should like to rent this house from you permanently at £100 a year, and be free to do whatever seemed necessary in the way of doing up etc. Would you agree?

I take it that so long as the school lasts I shall have John and Kate for all holidays."

"My Dear I shall be at 38 Bernard Street from Tuesday 10th to Friday 20th. After that, I shall not be there again."

"My Dear I am sorry I could not join in the discussions this week-end, but I saw the Prichards Friday night, and told them the relevant facts, with the exception of the possibility of a divorce."

"Tuesday My Dear I got your letter this morning and quite agree that we must talk things over—"

"My Dear Dora The children seemed very well and happy, and it was a delight seeing them."

"My Dear Dora Your letter came yesterday afternoon. You are right that we are getting unreal pictures of each other, which we must dissipate by meeting; so, if it suits you, I will come to T.H.* for the day on Thursday."

*[Telegraph House.]

"My Dear Your letter is rather mysterious, but I shall hope to hear more soon."

[The ms. by BR concerns servants at Carn Voel and Telegraph House.]

"My Dear Dora I have had two letters from you, and will deal with business separately."

"My Dear Dora I am very glad indeed that you have decided to go on with the school* for the coming year, though I cannot help thinking that you are rash; however, I hope I am wrong."

*[Beacon Hill School.]

"My Dear Dora I have not heard definitely about DE, but I suppose he is coming."

"The year's arrangement of the lease is definite: I have this house until next midsummer. But if you do not want me to have it on a long lease, I shall not want it after that."

"My Dear Dora I find I am not so poor as I thought."

"My Dear Yes, the rent business is as you say."

"My dear Kate is very eager to practise her music, but demands some music that is still at T.H.*, Diller and Quaile's Tunes from Many Lands, which is in the upstairs class room, on the shelves with the other music, torn, and part of the cover off."

*[Telegraph House.]

"My Dear Dora I am returning herewith the pass book and account book and John's test and the plays."

"My Dear I can't think how there has come to be such a confusion about cars and chauffeur."

"My dear Dora I am sincerely sorry there has been such a muddle about cars and chauffeurs, but I really thought I had arranged it with you, and I had no bad intentions."

"My Dear Dora Your letter about Marcia crossed mine."

Enclosed with letter of 30 July from BR to Dora Russell.

"My Dear Dora Many thanks for cheque for £49 duly received."

"My Dear Dora Thank you for the shade card, which I return."

"My Dear Dora I don't mind spending up to £135, as I suppose the additional £35 could stand over a little while, and I should prefer to get the whole business done, and also not to have to appeal to Withers."

"My Dear Dora I agree with you about the creeper, if you think it can be managed without rousing Withers to action."

"My Dear Thank you for your nice letter."

"My Dear Dora I enclose 2 letters*, one from a lady at Sennen."

[Neither is extant here.]

"My Dear Dora What a terrible thing about Roderick [Barry]."

"Dear Dora I enclose £100, being my quarterly payment."

"My Dear Dora Your letter makes me feel that it is useless to attempt to do things directly, without the lawyers."

"Dear Dora I enclose a book which has been sent me obviously in the hope that it might be useful in the school."

"I am sorry the negotiations have come to a deadlock."

"And you seem to forget that I am quite as anxious for the children's welfare as you are."

*"I should also be very glad of the large red atlas which used formerly to be in the tower. It is not used in school work, as the E.B. maps are better; my next book is to be historical, and I constantly need an atlas."

*"Flat 1"

"My Dear Dora I forgot to write about bicycles."

"My Dear Dora Thank you for your letter."

"Thursday My Dear Dora Thank you for your letter."

"Friday My Dear Dora I am seeing Crompton and Maw today so I will hope to come after that."

"Friday evg. My Dear Dora I saw Mr. Maw at Crompton's today and it was agreed (as far as I am concerned) that the idea of divorce should be dropped and that we should come to an agreement about things."

"My Dear Dora I hope the children got back all right."

"My Dear Dora I will expect the children on the 26th by the early train."

"My Dear Dora I am sending a considered answer to your long letter in a day or two."

"My Dear Dora I have a very heavy week of work, owing to the delegates of the India League having just returned from India, and to the fact that I have to write an address to the School of Economics."

"With regard to the children's schooling after next June, I doubt if any disagreement will arise between Mrs. Russell and me."

"My Dear Dora I meant to have written sooner to say how very satisfactory John and Kate were the day they came up."

"My Dear Dora The plays were excellent and the whole occasion most successful: I was very glad to see them."

"I met Aldous Huxley yesterday and also a man who teaches at Dartington and got all I could out of them." "I will go to Dartington early next term, but it seems to me quite likely that a day school might be better. What do you think?"

"My Dear Dora We plan to come on Xmas day by the train arriving 10.11."

"My Dear Dora You are right about trains."

"My Dear Dora The children are very well; they have just been to the dentist."

"Wednesday My Dear Kate Thank you very much for your letter."

"I enclose a letter* from the cable people asking if Carn Voel is to let. I have left it to you to reply, as I shall not be wanting Carn Voel after July, since the Cornish climate gives Peter rheumatism."

*[Not present.]

"Dear Dora If it suits, I should like to come to T.H. for the day on Saturday to see John and Kate."

"Dear Dora I find it is very difficult indeed for me to go to Carn Voel at present; I have important public engagements that I should have to cut."

"Dear Dora I am overwhelmed with work and can only write a line."

"Dear Dora I enclose £100, due to you tomorrow. Yours B"

"Friday My Dear Dora Lucy Silcox is very anxious to come and see the plays so we said we would bring her down by the 12.50 tomorrow."

"Would you mind sending Ramsey's Foundation of Mathematics with the children? I think it is in the tower. I need it to complete a book of essays."

"There is one book I very much want as soon as possible for my work—that is, Fyffe's History of Modern Europe, 3 vols. If you send it by post, I shall be grateful. I enclose 2/- for the postage."

"Dear Dora Thanks for your letter, and in anticipation for Fyffe."

"Dear Dora The children will be in the train leaving London at 9.50 Sat. mg." "I go to Spain on Saturday aftn. Address Yegen Ugijar Prov. Granada, Spain."

"Dear Dora Thanks for letter. The question about a 'new school' is purely verbal, except, of course, that one would wish to see that it is a nice place."

"I don't at all want to do anything to interfere with the school,* and I have told Crompton to say that I would let you have T.H. for £100 a year if you will take it till 1937 and let me have my furniture and books. I need many of my books for the book I am writing, and for the sake of economy I want to settle somewhere."

*[Beacon Hill School.]

"Dear Dora I expect to get back to England at the end of June, and I should like to come to T.H. for the day on July 1st (Saturday)."

"Dear Dora The children are very well and arrived here safely."

"Dear Dora Thank you for the passports, which arrived safely."

"Dear Dora Could you send combs for the children?"

"When you last saw me I was just recovering from severe poisoning, which accounts for my not having looked well. Naturally I do not look particularly happy when I come to T.H., as the situation is awkward. I am afraid it is too late to suggest my coming back. You know that I was very unhappy the last years that we were together, and that in the end I could not bear it any longer."

"Dear Dora John's foot is nearly well, but it has been trying for him being in a new place and unable to do anything energetic."

"Dear Dora I will answer your letter tomorrow as there is not time now before post goes."

"Dear Dora I had not time to answer your letter sooner."

"Dear Madam I shall be in London next Saturday (26th) when I suppose John will be coming to the dentist."

[For dating see secretary's letter of 22 May 1934.]

"Dear Dora Would you be so kind as to send me the prescription for John's glasses as ordered by Dr. Clarke?"

"Dear Dora I enclose  £5.10.7, being half the proceeds of Prospects of Industrial Civilization for the past year."

"Certainly, let the children have riding lessons."

"Dear Dora I see you are bringing out a book of the children's plays, which is a good thing to do." (Re their Thinking in Front of Yourself.)

"Dear Miss Mollard Wealth against Commonwealth is an average-sized book, slightly smaller than The Stammering Century."

"Dear Dora Am I right in assuming the holidays begin on Dec. 23 and end on Jan. 6?"

"Dear Dora I am sorry I did not know sooner that you break up on Thursday."

"Dear Griffin, Thank you for your letter and Dora's."

"Dear Dora The £100 school fees are being paid out of the children's funds."