25 August 1922

6 Pond Street, Hampstead, London

Dear Koteliansky
   I have been sitting in the empty house, thinking, since you left, chiefly about Murry and Lawrence's review. I do not see that he was to blame. How could he, being himself act otherwise? The first book he hated and said so. (The manner of saying it was wrong.) The second book he immensely admired and said so. He praised it because he thought it was a good powerful book. I dont see what personal motive or interest he could have had in such a change of front. On the contrary. Surely he risked being called a turn coat. . .
   You know I am deeply sorry for Murry he is like a man under a curse. That is not melodrama. That is why I am determined to remain his friend and to make him free of his own will. Special cases need special methods. There is no general treatment for all.
   But, dear precious friend, I must not speak against him to you. I feel we both know too much for that to be necessary. It is better to be silent about him. In these last months away from all his associates here I think he has got much more like he used to be. I can't help wishing, for the sake of the people you know in common, that you could just accept him - knowing him as you do.
   Now that I am no longer in a false position with Murry, now that I am, in the true sense of the word ‘free' I look at him differently. His situation is very serious. But who am I to say anyone is beyond hope - to withdraw my hand if there is even the smallest chance of helping them.
   Will you think this all very wrong - I wonder?  [To S. S. Koteliansky, 23 August 1922.]