THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

[About 1st August 1906 ]

O my dear Randolph

I am so glad – I’ve thought so much lately about your lonely life – & c^dnt bear to think of it – I knew this was what you wanted – of course everyone does – but you especially. You have everything to make a wife happy for ever & ever – and you have everything in you which cries out for it – I noticed this especially in you last time but I didn’t know it had taken such a definite shape.¹
How bad of you to put me off the scent – talking about thin ice – when you were fully intending to tumble all the time!
Of course we shall like your heroine 1^st off – any one who is in love with you & with whom you are in love – what more?
& now I must say – though you won’t like my doing so – that I consider that the woman who has won you – well there I can’t say what I mean but you know – and you can read between the lines – because I’m not saying anything I want to – and I’m boring you fearfully with this long screed – you call Adeline and me your best friends – and I can’t say what it means to me to have you say that – and I am exercising a best friend’s privilege to the full.
I do want to see her so – & I hear much about her – I’m glad she’s so young – only sorry she’s not 17 – I hope you’ll be married at once – I know you’ll be happy with a young wife.
By the way M^rs Urquhart takes a most tender interest in you & asked me the other day if you were engaged! – when I said ‘no’ she immediately began making plans for you & I believe has even gone so far as to ask over the mother of “Lily” (photograph on the mantelpiece) to hold pour-parler with me – I’m afraid it will be a queer show then if she ever hears – and she’s not strong.
I would venture to send a message to Iris (may I call her so?) if I dared so if I may you can invent one from me – you will do it so much better than I shall!
Goodbye happy dear Randolph
Bless you
This is quite illegible but my hand shakes from excitement.
Yours
R.V.W.

1. Wedgwood had become engaged to Iris Pawson; they married later in the year on 24 October.