THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

The White Gates,
Westcott Road,
Dorking.

Tuesday [4 September 1934]

Dearest Harriet

How dear of you to send me those lovely flowers & that message.  I wonder what the young man at Jays thought when he copied it out – I expect there will be a scandal in the village! 
I was so glad to hear from you – I thought perhaps you’d forgotten all about me.  I am nearly well – but not allowed to move yet.¹
I expect you are at Gloucester listening to Arnold’s music – I wish I were.²
But I address this to London
Love from

RVW

1. VW had cut his foot in July and an abscess had developed which kept him in bed for eight weeks – see R.V.W.: a biography, p.201.
2. Arnold Bax’s Summer Music and St Patrick’s Breastplate were both given at the Gloucester Three Choirs Festival in 1934. See Anthony Boden, Three Choirs: a history of the festival, (Stroud 1992) p.182.