FFRANGCON-DAVIES

apologising for her late reply but I feel that you understand how difficult it is to write letters when one is always in the condition of trying to keep up with those business & 'duty' ones - as soon as I am rich I'm going to have a secretary so that I can write only those letters that I want to! Thank you so much for your card at Xmas which has shamed me into breaking my long silence... I was so tired after Tess that I longed to get away from people & just relax & this peaceful place has done me a world of good. It was a wonderful & thrilling experience playing Tess; I don't suppose anything will ever be so exciting again, for not play in recent years has caused such interest all over the world. I have had the most lovely wonderful letters from Hardy enthusiast... I did try hard to get her soul & mind, even if I couldn't manage her physique! It was tremendously interesting meeting Hardy of course; he was quite unlike anything I had imagined - I had always thought of him as large & terrifying, a cross between Shaw. & Ibsen with a dash of Russian gloom thrown in - & lo, a brisk little person - bright & cheerful, with twinkling eyes like a robin! I still cannot reconcile his personality with his books... I'm sorry you missed Caesar that was a jolly show. I want to get Shaw to broadcast the first act of it with me..., 10 sides 8vo., with original envelope, 3 New Street, Dorset Square, 3rd January