29 November

29 November 1920

Villa Isola Bella, Menton, France

Did you read in the Times that Shelley left on his table a bit of paper with a blot on it & a flung down quill. Mary S. had a glass case put over same & carried it all the way to London on her knees. Did you ever hear such rubbish!! Thats her final give away for me. Did she keep it on her knees while she ate her sangwiches. Did everybody know. Oh - didn't they just. Ive done with her.
I was fearfully shocked by D.L.M.'s stupidity about Juliet. That was a blow. He has never had the faintest idea about the whole play, evidently. What a foolish article. But it was worse than that. It was very ignorant and stupid. [To J. M. Murry in Collected Letters, 28 November 1920]

Darling Bogey
Just a line in reply to your letter all about Elizabeth Asquith & Mary H. I should resent the getting there as Im sure you wont get Godber to take you. But I expect you'll enjoy the rest. Mary H. understood food very well & an atmosphere of admiration is never wholly unpleasant at 31 - is it, Monsieur? I dont quite believe in your cry against fine ladies. At least I take a big grain of salt out of my salt cellar while youre telling me & say: "I think your hair wants parting a little more to the left." Mary H. too, is no end artful with those she wants to please.
I was walking about in the garden last night. It was wonderfully starry. Not a breath stirring. How pleasant it is to walk in and out of ones win¬dows as one does in France - I'd much much rather look at the stars alone than at the bubbles in my glass in any company.
But Im very sorry you're so pressé, darling. For heavens sake don't bother to tell me all about it!
Yours,
Wig the eremite.

[To J. M. Murry in Collected Letters 1920]