A happy New Year to you.

Fergie, O Fergie, O Fergie! You can't imagine what deliriums, great thoughts and gastric juices are raised by such a present [half a farmhouse Stilton cheese that had been given to H.F. by Toty de Navarro]. It was very generous, in spite of your disclaimer, for it might have gone elsewhere. And if you hadn't said anything about its origin, I should have thought you got it straightfrom Fortnums. (Now I can't possibly say the same about your cast-off clothes.)

I see by the programme which you enclosed that the ‘Five Tudor Portraits’ [R.V.W.] is down for the 27th, so I'll come up for that and combine it with those part-songs on the 29th. I'm coming up on the 11th and will see you at the concert. Would it be convenient if I came round to Willoughby Road the next morning about 10.0? (I don't know what time you like on account of Nunky.) I'm told that the first night of Steuart Wilson's production of ‘The Lily Maid’ is on the 11th, so I might go along to hear it on the 12th.1 Some out-of-the-way hole - the Palace - or some such place. If it does come off I should like to see not only Steuart conduct, but also what he considers a really economical and satisfactory opera.

All news when we meet. Love to Nunky. I suppose I'll be allowed to see him? Love from Joy. G.

LIKEWISE, A happy New Year!

Dearest Dave,

So glad you will enjoy the Stilton. It is quite a good one, but not the very best I have ever tasted, so don't let your expectation soar too high.

About the 12th. You may remember that in a previous letter I said there was something I wanted to ask you about when we next met: a question of to be or not to be. To be less mysterious, there is a set of five short pieces for clarinet and piano [H.F.'s ‘Four Short Pieces', Op.6] which I would like your opinion on: they are very slight, but well enough done in their way, I think, and I would like to know whether you think they merit publication and a number all to themselves. My feeling is that they do, but I should like to have your agreement before doing anything about it.