MARCH 1938

Early in the month, Jenny Nicholson stops in to visit Graves and Riding before travelling to Liverpool. Once again Graves pays off her outstanding debts before sending her off with his blessing. But when Jenny's money troubles continue, Graves loses patience and sets firm limits: Decision about Jenny: £4 when out of work, none when in, suspension of visits. Graves' contact with David seems more pleasurable; the two talk of David's university plans. And over a luncheon, Graves' mother introduces Graves to two brothers, Alan and Ernest York.

Other domestic intrigues keep the month lively. Norman Cameron's Austrian servant girl Mitzi is admitted for psychiatric evaluation, having apparently gone off her head. Later, Graves writes that she is quite definitely violently insane. Karl and Marie announce their plans to leave Graves and Riding, and Graves spends some energy this month looking for an appropriate post for Karl. Karl himself seems to be considering advertising. He also causes a minor stir later in the month by accidentally cutting off the tip of his forefinger. Riding and Maisie Somerville have a significant argument, for which Maisie finally apologises. Graves and Riding receive word from Spain that Juan of Moli was given twelve years.of prison time? eds

Evenings are spent with Honor and Gordon, Alan and Beryl, and Harry and Alix. Graves takes a few long walks with Margaret Russell, and later in the month Ethel Herdman stops the night.

Graves' primary project this month is the dramatic version of A Trojan Ending; he finishes a first draft of the play before the end of March. He also drafts two new poems: Doing Nothing (later called Idle Hands) and The Great-Grandmother. Belisarius is chosen by the Book Society as the book of the month for April, and Cassell's shows interest in the Dictionary project. Graves and Liddell Hart spend a considerable amount of time going over the proofs of the T. E. Lawrence book (T.E. Lawrence to His Biographer) on the phone and in person over lunch, where Graves is not at all impressed by Mrs. Liddell Hart, whom he dismisses as very childish & hopelessly chaotic.

Throughout March Riding works with Len Lye, and with Norman Cameron on Rimbaud. This month she also finishes The World and Ourselves; Graves helps with the clerical details and reads over the manuscript, which is then sent to Watt. The two also work a bit more on The Swiss Ghost, and Graves begins to read over the proofs of Riding's Collected Poems. Riding, Honor Wyatt and Alan Hodge begin a new project - a play on peace.

Towards the end of the month, Riding and Graves hold a meeting of colleagues and friends to decide on moral action to be taken by inside people: for outside disorders. The meeting results in the drafting of a moral protocol, which Riding will work on for the next several weeks, with editorial input from various people.

Riding's health and sleeping patterns remain inconsistent. Graves often reads to her when she is not feeling well - this month from a history of the German Peasant Revolt. Graves' health is compromised as well: he has an impacted wisdom tooth removed, and the post-operative ache in his jaw lasts several days.

Throughout the month, the weather is unseasonably warm - the best March weather that England has ever seen, declares Graves. Solace the cat seems to be in heat (if the collection of loud, catty companions about the house is any indication). Graves continues to buy trinkets that please him. Over the next several weeks, he will make necklaces from restrung beads and present them as gifts to the women in his life: Bought two 3d necklaces in the Church St. (Marylsbone) street market consisting of mahogony beads, red trade-beads, bobbin beads, Egyptian ebony and with the green Indian-jade made 3 necklaces. He also buys a Koran from his favourite book shop. He takes pleasure in finding objects that are personally interesting and delightful: Walk up Marlborough Hill and then to the right: investigation of a group of houses under demolishment. Rescued a broken majolica flower-pot-holder from the cellar. Brought it back because it had pieces inside and Karl & I repaired it. Wrote a factual account of it.

But the entries this month have a brooding and reflective tone. Graves reports on the invasion of Austria, and one morning writes, I was interested in waking up on the great gap between orders given by mind & the physical actions which seemed violent and disconnected.

There are two enclosures this month:

1. Cutting from The Spectator: Powerless in the Matter (Graves' article about the cottage in Sospan Fach, North Wales). 2. Postcard to Graves from David Graves