BR TO KATHARINE TAIT, 4 SEPT. 1947
BRACERS 52536. ALS. McMaster
Proofread by K. Blackwell

[Address Dorset House]
<letterhead>
Penralltgoch
Llan Ffestiniog
Merioneth
Sp. 4, 1947

My dear Kate

Thank you for your good letter of Aug. 16. I very much enjoy getting your letters, and like them to be egotistical.

Before I get onto any other topic, I must ask you to give a message of thanks to Harriet for a letter she wrote to me, which I was very surprised to get — a most friendly letter, <lines excised by K. Tait from the photocopied page>

I have not heard from John and Susan since I came here, and do not know whether the very good relations we had in London will continue. I hope so. I agree with you that Susan has potential common sense. I think she will develop a long way, but in what direction I don’t know. I hope devoutly that John will remain fond of her. <text excised; this paragraph may be from the recto of the first page>

I think if John can make a living in England they had better stay here, to get away from lunatics. I think Susan is unusually adaptable. I saw too little of the children to have any impression. I am glad John felt I understood him. One can’t understand people who take care to conceal themselves, as he used to do, and you too.

It will be nice if you come to Europe a year from now. If you get to Switzerland it will not be difficult to get to Germany. I assume you will come to England on the way. It will do you good to have some teaching, but don’t terrify yourself with pictures of yourself as a middle-aged spinster don — I am sure you will marry sooner or later. As for Plotinus, my Chapter on him in my history is one of those I think best, because I treated him very sympathetically though his philosophy is so remote from mine. I have a real affection for him.

I cannot tell you how glad I am that you are writing again. Never mind if what you write is unpleasant. Stick to it, and see what happens.

John and Susan said almost nothing about you, but gave their own biographies with great minuteness, which I was glad of.

My book on Human Knowledge is just finished, barring a few small corrections. I hope it is a good book, but I think it will please very few people. We flourish, and enjoy Wales and our new house. The weather this summer has been as good as it was bad last winter — continual sun and warmth. Conrad is good at swimming and diving and climbing mountains, so the place suits him. Peter is very well and in a very good mood.

Give my best wishes to Harriet. I hope you will grow happier. Much love, dear Kate.

Your aff
Diddy