THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

[Dorking]

Monday night, [5 January, 1942]

Belov Boo
I missed the post – for the Finzis came for lunch & unexpectedly stayed for tea.  This went off well & M said he was glad to see them & he saw them off at the station.  They came all the way from Newbury – Finzi was deeply ashamed at not having recognized you at Wigmore!  He is now working in London Foreign Shipping relations ot something like that.  Christine made herself very sociable – she liked Joyce much more that she did Mary – 2 double teeth are working through – no wonder she has been fretful & bunged up.  Ralph is having a quiet day by the fire.  I think he got a chill and is overtired for he has had constant visits to cabinet¹.  So tonight he has had a poached egg & arrowroot & brandy & I hope will be all right tomorrow.  He can put off a London meeting – he enjoyed having Fin.

1.  i.e. Drink’s cabinet