BR TO KATHARINE TAIT, 27 NOV. 1944
BRACERS 52596. ALS. McMaster. SLBR 2: #466
Edited by N. Griffin. Proofread by K. Blackwell

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TRINITY COLLEGE,
CAMBRIDGE.
27.11.44

Dear Kate

Thank you for your letter. I quite understand how you and John feel, and I should feel the same way in your place. At the same time, I hope that you and John will come at least once more — probably soon after Xmas. Here are my reasons.

1. I do not want you both to be strangers to Conrad, who is fond of you both and has strong family feeling.
2. It is very awkward and infinitely painful to me if relations between you and Peter get bad beyond a point.
3. Peter is ashamed of having had such an outburst — she always is, but is bad at apologizing. She has been writing you long letters to say so, and then deciding not to send them.
4. Peter has in the past done a great deal for you, and as a decent human being you owe her some forbearance.

Please both think the matter over, and I hope you will consent to try once more.

I hope Peter will decide to accept John’s invitation some time during the Xmas holidays — it wouldn’t be possible any other time. Conrad’s holidays begin Dec. 20.

I have to be at the B.B.C. Monday 18th 1–3 p.m.1 I should like to stay the night and see you and John either Sunday or Monday.a I want also to see Pam,2 and Daphne Phelps,3 and if possible David Bryson.4 I should like you all to dine with me somewhere.

The Barnes money should reach me in a few days.5 If there is a substantial sum, I will make you a Xmas present of the £11. I don’t know yet what there will be.

Glad of what you say about your work.

Yrs. aff
Diddy

• 1

  I have to be at the B.B.C. Monday 18th 1–3p.m. Russell was a regular member of the panel of the Brains Trust, a very popular BBC radio programme in which eminent panel members responded to questions sent in by listeners. He was going to London to record a programme to be broadcast next day. For his contributions to this session, see App. I.2, Collected Papers 24.

• 2

  Pam Conrad’s nurse. She had returned to England early in the war.

• 3

  Daphne Phelps An Englishwoman the Russells had met in Pennsylvania. She kept in touch with Russell after the war.

• 4

  David Bryson Another friend from America. Bryson had known the Russells in Pennsylvania.

• 5

  The Barnes money should reach me in a few days. Russell had won his lawsuit against Barnes the previous November, and had been awarded $20,000 in damages. Payment had been delayed, however, while Barnes appealed.

Textual Notes

• a

  either Sunday or Monday inserted