[No surviving envelope]

T. S.Eliot
EmilyHale
TS
Faber & Faber Ltd
28 September 1946
Dearest Woman,

Your letter of the 24th came this afternoon: I was distressed to hear of the loss of your friend Mrs. Little. I regret much that I never met her: what you tell me now amplifies what you have said before, from time to time, and makes it clear that you have lost a friend whom no one can replace. (ItBrownes, the Martin;c6 seems curious that the Brownes should have met, and can remember, one so important in your life whom I have never known). You do not say, nor do I remember, how long you had known her, or for how long she had been such an intimate of yours. IPerkinses, the;l6 am sure that you will constantly miss her, especially in your relations with the Perkins’s; it must have come acutely home to you after the experience at lunch there, a few days before, which you mention in this letter. (Well, one can hardly expect real understanding from one’s nearest relatives: butEliot, Henry Ware, Jr. (TSE's brother)as brother;k2 IEliot, Marion Cushing (TSE's sister)importance as sister;e5 wish you had someone near to you in blood, with whom you could at least feel the repose of warm affection that I can get with Henry and Marion. I can’t talk to them intimately, and with Henry certainly there are always reasons why I find being with him, after a time, a strain: but I always feel that I am prized, and that the affection I can give them means a great deal to them). And it is hard to reconcile oneself to the fact that one cannot give eyes to the blind – least of all to the mentally or spiritually blind, for at least, with physical blindness, one can do a great deal to replace the lack of sight – and the physically blind know what it is that they lack.

Your other piece of news, about the lodger, is more cheering. I do hope that she will wear well, as she has begun well; and I like to think that you expect to take more evening meals at home than you had anticipated. I also like to think of you engaging in cooking. Now I shall, in due course, want to be reassured that your work in Concord, and in running a house, and going in to lecture in Boston, are not in combination going to be too much.

Theresa’sEliot, Theresa Garrett (TSE's sister-in-law)relationship with Henry;d6 letter is not very forthcoming, certainly: I am sure not deliberately or consciously reserved. Perhaps, if I could ever have discussed my own affairs more freely with Henry, and got through his reserve, it would have been easier for Theresa; but I do think that she has been somewhat numbed by living with Henry, and I think that a great deal of the time he must be very depressing for her. IEliot, Marion Cushing (TSE's sister)Henry's fondness for;e6 am still worried by her remarking to me, one day in July, that Henry was fonder of Marion than of her; and also by her feeling that Henry mustn’t see her talking too much with me, out of his hearing. They were devoted to each other in their way, and yet it is not a perfectly happy atmosphere. I think he has brooded too much on his ‘failure’ in life, which seems much more of a failure to him than to others; and I am always constrained by the feeling (which Theresa has too) that he contrasts his own ‘failure’ with my ‘success’ (though he doesn’t know at what price that ‘success’ has been paid for): but I am the last person to have the right to censure him on this ground. Well, you have made your approach, my dear, and you can do no more at present. Perhaps, with my next visit, and their gradually getting to know me better through frequentation, things may alter.

ANason, Margaret ('Meg') Geraldinesends TSE birthday cake;a3 magnificent birthday cake arrived from Meg (who is rejoicing in her approaching two weeks holiday in Cornwall) andTandy, Pollysends TSE birthday chicken;a3 a boiling chicken from Polly Tandy; and at the same time a case of provisions arrived from an unknown lady in Australia, so we are set up for the moment. I shall be glad when this theological conference is over: butNotes Towards the Definition of CultureTSE writing;a5 the contribution they expect from me (a paper which may be incorporated into their report to the Archbishop) is directly in line with one of the chapters in my book (I have written the introduction and the first four chapters, and there remain but two chapters to add) and the discussion, or some of it, may be helpful to my own work. Besides, it is an aspect of the problem in which my own thinking is, I believe, rather pioneer.

Your loving
Tom.

IKinchin Smith, F.;a3 have got in touch with Kinchin Smith of The Trojan Women.

Brownes, the Martin, at TSE's theatrical tea-party, pick over scenario for Murder, TSE's fondness for, introduce TSE to Saint-Denis, both invited to Tenebrae, TSE reads Family Reunion to, and their Pilgrim Players, their sons, among TSE's intimates, encourage TSE over Cocktail Party, discuss Cocktail Party draft, Silver Wedding Party,
Eliot, Henry Ware, Jr. (TSE's brother), hears TSE's Dryden broadcast, as potential confidant, sibling most attuned to TSE's needs, witness to the Eliots in 1926, surprises TSE in Boston, his aura of futility, disputes New Yorker profile of TSE, at Eliot family Thanksgiving, attends second Norton lecture, his business in Chicago, hosts TSE in New York, TSE reads his second detective story, his immaturity, accuses TSE of wrath, writes TSE long critical letter, the favourite of TSE's parents, sends New York Murder clippings, writes again about religion, insensitive to European affairs, Peabody Museum employ as research associate, gives TSE pyjamas for Christmas, sends TSE luggage for Christmas, hosts Murder's Boston cast, sends present to Morley children, cables TSE on 50th birthday, given draft of Family Reunion, gives TSE portfolio, champions Kauffer's photograph of TSE, explains operation on ears, sends list of securities, takes pleasure in shouldering Margaret, undergoes serious operation, recovering at home, as curator of Eliotana, as curator of Eliotana, war imperils final reunion with, and TSE's rumoured Vatican audience, corresponds with TSE monthly, offers Tom Faber wartime refuge, nervous about TSE during Blitz, as described by Frank Morley, recalls The Dry Salvages, has appendix out, cautioned as to health, frail, condition worries TSE, as correspondent, friend to J. J. Sweeney, tries TSE's patience, reports on Ada, describes Ada's funeral, beleaguered by Margaret, sent Picture Post F&F photos, likened to Grandfather Stearns, goitre operated on, his archaeological endeavours, back in hospital, imagined in exclusively female company, ill again, as brother, has pneumonia, terminal leukaemia, prospect of his death versus Ada's, anxieties induced by deafness, writes to TSE despite illness, death, memorial service for, on EH's presumption, Michael Roberts's symptoms reminiscent of, his Chicago acquaintance, friends with Robert Lowell's father, invoked against EH, on TSE's love for EH, buried in Garrett family lot, The Rumble Murders,

3.HenryEliot, Henry Ware, Jr. (TSE's brother) Ware Eliot (1879–1947), TSE’s older brother: see Biographical Register.

Eliot, Marion Cushing (TSE's sister), described, her reading habits, not a suitable confidant, TSE reflects on reunion with, Symphony concerts with TSE, to the cinema with TSE, delighted with first Norton lecture, recommends TSE hairdresser for baldness, attends second Norton lecture, hosts birthday party for Margaret, remembered in St. Louis, worried by Dodo's manner, TSE's pride in, vigilant on TSE's health, on Randolph family holiday, congratulates TSE on separation, 1934 summer in England with Dodo, July arrival anticipated, arrangements for, visit to Chipping Campden, off to Salisbury, walks to Kelmscott, returns from Winchester, forces Regent's Park on TSE, excessively humble, next to Ada in TSE's affections, protects TSE from overbearing Hinkleys, supported Landon over FDR, co-hosts Murder party, 1939 summer in England with Dodo, trip in doubt, Southwold week planned, due 19 June, taken to Dulwich, ballet and dinner with, Southwold holiday with, given to post-lunch naps, sends Christmas supplies to Shamley, as correspondent, easiest Eliot in Ada's absence, experiences crisis, importance as sister, Henry's fondness for, devoutly Unitarian, ignorant of Henry's true condition, undernourished, abortive 1948 summer in England, cancelled, which comes as relief, hosts family dinner-party, letter about Nobel Prize to, TSE leaves money with, 1949 visit to England with Dodo, June arrival anticipated, plans for, EH bids 'bon voyage', visit to Cambridge, return from Southwold, Borders tour, Basil Street Hotel stay, Thanksgiving with, reports on Dr Perkins's funeral, efforts to support financially, tethered to Margaret, joins TSE in St. Louis, 1954 trip to England with Dodo, visit to Ely and Cambridge, in light of Margaret's death, invoked against EH, TSE to Theresa on,

1.Marian/MarionEliot, Marion Cushing (TSE's sister) Cushing Eliot (1877–1964), fourth child of Henry Ware Eliot and Charlotte Eliot: see Biographical Register.

Eliot, Theresa Garrett (TSE's sister-in-law), witness to the Eliots in 1926, draws TSE, co-hosts Murder party, remembers TSE's intention to marry EH, her immaturity, expresses solicitude for EH, careless of Henry's health, inflator of rumours, apparently ill, a 'lovely person', as correspondent, more agreeable than an Eliot, TSE on, unsuited to resist Margaret, and Henry's mania for Eliotana, wishes to take Henry on holiday following illness, made fretful by Henry, relationship with Henry, ignorant of Henry's true condition, on EH and TSE, after Henry's death, sends TSE Henry's old greatcoat, EH reports on, visits lawyer with TSE, avid for Eliotana, star-struck, undergoes operation on ear, for which TSE bears cost, hosts TSE in 1952, hosts TSE in 1955, custodian of Henry's collection, hosts TSE in 1956, visits England, on whether to return EH's letters, on TSE not marrying EH,
see also Eliots, the Henry
Kinchin Smith, F., offers book for publication,

2.F. KinchinKinchin Smith, F. Smith (1895–1958), classicist, taught from 1934 in the Institute of Education, University of London; from 1936, he was Hon. Secretary of the Joint Committee of the Classical and English Associations. Best known for his Teach Yourself volumes on Greek and Latin, he also produced versions of The Trojan Women of Euripides (a work that was to be offered to F&F later in 1946 – and turned down) and the Antigone of Sophocles.

Nason, Margaret ('Meg') Geraldine, sends TSE birthday letter, sends TSE birthday cake, sends TSE box of toffee, apparently forgets TSE's birthday, but remembers, ill, expecting operation, among the saved, a 'Cosy Pet', and sister to lunch, given small iron wheelbarrow, her health,

1.MargaretNason, Margaret ('Meg') Geraldine (Meg) Geraldine Nason (1900–86), proprietor of the Bindery tea rooms, Broadway, Worcestershire, whom TSE and EH befriended on visits to Chipping Campden.

Notes Towards the Definition of Culture, sketched by TSE, interrupted, being worked up, TSE writing, stimulated by Christ Church symposium, last chapter to be rewritten, under revision, represents complete statement of TSE's beliefs, EH on, EH requests inscribed copy for Marguerite Hearsey,
Perkinses, the, likely to be interested in An Adventure, compared to Mary Ware, enjoyable dinner at the Ludlow with, take to TSE, TSE desires parental intimacy with, their dinner-guests dismissed by TSE, who repents of seeming ingratitude, TSE confides separation plans to, too polite, questioned as companions for EH, offered English introductions, entertained on arrival in London, seek residence in Chichester, given introduction to G. C. Coulton, take house at Chipping Camden, as Chipping Campden hosts, given introduction to Bishop Bell, TSE entertains at Oxford and Cambridge Club, TSE's private opinion on, TSE encourages EH's independence from, their repressive influence on EH, buy TSE gloves for Christmas, sent Lapsang Souchong on arrival in England, invite TSE to Campden, move apartment, anticipate 1938 English summer, descend on EH in Northampton, and EH's wartime return to America, temporarily homeless, enfeebled, EH forwards TSE teenage letter to, their health, which is a burden, approve EH's permanent Abbot position,
Tandy, Polly, knits jumper for TSE, remembers TSE's birthday, sends TSE birthday chicken,
see also Tandys, the