| Content Description | Is pleased she is safely home; mentions a letter from [Percy Reginald] Stephensen [Manager of Fanfrolico Press], whom he describes as a 'wind-bag, a real match to Willie Hopkin'; questions his criticism of Dorothy Warren [owner of Warren Gallery] as he is 'by no means too dependable himself'; admits she is an 'undependable creature' who will not make a definite decision about the show [exhibition of his paintings], but also that she writes 'most lovingly' and is coming to meet them in a fortnight; expects he will have to get the lawyer to settle things; is very interested to hear she has found the MS of the Rainbow; enquires if it is the original handwritten MS; asks her to compare it with the Methuen printed edition and if she can remember how the MS came into her hands.
Gives his reasons, both immediate and long-term, for his keenness to preserve and safeguard his property - 'they increase in value and represent his capital' - but is prepared to dispose of them at auction if ever he needed a 'fair sum of money' for any enterprise; explains 'We only live once and must use every opportunity of living'; after his death the MSS and pictures would have to be sold to provide Frieda with something of an income; referring to heirlooms, as George is head of the 'family', Ernest [elder son of George Lawrence] is the legal heir of heirlooms; states he has no use for family and heirlooms; cannot see Jackie and Bertie [Ada Lawrence's sons] 'getting any thrill' from the MSS of 'The Rainbow' and 'The Trespasser', except for that 'monetary gain' she mentions.
Does not believe in hoarding things for other generations; as he has no need for money and no wish to sell any of his MSS and pictures at the moment, he asks her to keep them with those she already has; repeats his enquiry about the Rainbow MS and explains the descriptive terminology to her; points out that 'written MS is best' although proofs and typescript also have value, especially if there are corrections; expects to remain in Germany another fortnight; likes its sunny, peaceful setting among the mountains but the altitude tries him a bit; asks her to make a full list [of his things] and a brief description of the MSS, typescripts and proofs, or to let Gertie [Cooper] do it; signed 'D.H.L.'
In a postscript reports that Frieda's bone was successfully set by a bone-setter from the next village; is annoyed at the thought of earlier expensive medical treatment in London and Baden. |