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Is sailing for Greece on 28th May. Is negotiating about several island houses. Hopes Beaton will spend his summer holiday with them. Has finished his short novel, "Breakfast at Tiffany's". "Harper's" are publishing it 'though they are very skittish about some of the language'. Thinks they may alter it without telling him. The Lunts open on Monday and he has had two invites. Press reports say that "My Fair Lady" is a huge success. They all credit Beaton with scenery and costumes and do not mention Oliver. Jane Bowles is back in New York, 'alone, very ill, very penniless'. Capote and Tennessee (Williams) are going to give a joint reading to raise money for her. Jack's play opens in New York on 15th May. Saw "Old Man and the Sea" and thought it 'pretty good'. Has not seen "Gigi". Everybody raves about Beaton's work. Jokes about writing he saw on a bathroom wall.

Loves the town they are staying in. Describes the town. They are living in an hotel at the moment and attepting to acquire the villa next door. Does not mind whether they get it, as the place they are staying in is nice. Beaton must come to stay. The inhabitants are 'singularly unsophisticated'. The island is eight hours by boat from Athens. Mentions his work with "Harper's Bazaar".

It has been raining, but the sun is coming back. Beaton's visit was wonderful. Jack said that Beaton is a '"wonderful man"', which is 'high praise from him'. Nick is excited about Wiltshire. Thinks that he will work out well for Beaton 'as long as he has access to the T.V.'. Kitty is fine, though she disappeared last night for several hours. Will not be able to come to London or Venice, as it is not fair to leave Jack alone. Assures Beaton that he will not mention the diaries. Thinks that the only people who will be really offended will be those who are not mentioned.

Thanks Beaton for the pictures and note. John, the room cleaner, was 'touchingly aglow and excited with his snaps'. Has given the nun's pictures to the nuns because the 'crazy one has driven me dotty' and has come to the hotel three times to ask about the pictures. Likes the picture of him and Binky. Hopes some of the town and landscape pictures turned out well. Allen Brien said that the clipping about H. Mackiz was 'very cruel, but most deserved'. Nick showed him some painting he had done and they were 'charming'. Hope Nick will not be delayed in going to England. Has booked a passage and sails on the tenth. Is glad that the Venetian tailor worked out, but was 'shocked to hear of the disappearance of the famous landmark'. Had a letter from Oliver S., who is recovering from a serious operation. The weather is 'divine' and all the people have left. Kitty is completely healed and happy.

Thinks that Beaton's agent and reader are wrong. Feels that you either like the diary or you don't, but you cannot argue about it, 'any more than you can argue with a person who doesn't like asparagus'. Realizes their sincerity and can see that many people would agree with them. But feels that the 'value of the diary is in its honesty'. Thinks that the critics are asking Beaton to be something other than he is. Was disappointed not to see or speak Beaton while he was in New York. But he has to go to the mainland to use the telephone and it is very complicated. Praises his house and says that it is the best place they have ever had. Would like Beaton to see it. Asks if Beaton liked "Gypsy". It is a shame about Nick. Feels that perhaps Nick is taking advantage. Jack and the animals are all well.

Enjoyed the picture of Beaton sunning the Gainsborough costumes in the garden. It is exciting news that the play is going to be done. Thinks that Donald Wolfit would be excellent. Asks to be told all the news. Would be nice if he could come to see it. Has not heard from Slim since the beginning of June and is concerned by her silence. Beaton's item about her and Pam C. (Churchill) 'stunned' him. Babe did not mention it in her last letter. Saw Leland and Mrs. C. in a restaurant and teased them that he would write to Slim. Actually did write to Slim, asking if 'she knew her husband was running round with the notorious Mrs. C.'. Asks if he has really left Slim. Asks to know eveything Beaton knows about it. Wishes Beaton good luck with the play.

He and Jack send 'most heartfelt good wishes' for "Landscape with Figures". Has just returned from a visit to the Paleys in New Hampshire. Does not enjoy houses 'overrun with children', so it was nice to return home. From having been a 'gregarious' person, now feels the need for 'huge doses of privacy'. At the Paleys there was a lot of talk about the Hayward-Churchill 'fandango'. Had a letter from Slim, who said that Leland has not asked for a divorce, 'though Mrs. C. tells everyone she will be Mrs. H. in November'. Babe and Minnie have 'vowed undying enmity' to Mrs. C., while Betsy is her 'greatest partisan' as she is so grateful 'that the threat to her own happy home has been removed'. New York is divided into two camps. The 'pro-Slim contingent' has 'sent Mrs. Hornblow to the firing squad' because she gave a dinner for Leland and Mrs. C. Thinks that Mrs. C. will win the contest in the end, though he is a 'Slimite to the death'. Expresses sympathy for Slim. Asks if Eileen could send him the address of the Bolton Studios. Harold Arlen's score for "Saratoga"is excellent, but the cast sounds 'dismal'. Isherwood has taken a teaching job in California.

Has just returned after nearly two months in Kansas, an 'extraordinary experience'. Will let Beaton read about it as 'it may amount to a small book'. Wonders if Beaton is still in St. Moritz. Everyone has gone away to the snow or the sun. Was surprised that '"this person"' was surprised when Beaton proposed and 'amazed when she hesitated'. But feels that if it works out, it will be 'a better and happier thing for the thinking over'. Expresses sympathy about Stratford falling through 'in this tiresome and wasteful fashion'. Looks forward to Beaton's March return to New York. Has been out of circulation for so long that he has no gossip to report.

Hopes that Beaton has had a good rest on Capri. Was in London two days ago and spent most of the time talking to the psychiatrist and found him 'very helpful'. Had a drink with the Messel-Hansens and dinner with Jamie Hamilton. Has had letters from various sources making mention of 'that person'. Everybody knows Beaton is in love with her, but she has several suitors and will wait a while. Work is going well and they are negotiating for a chalet in Verbiers. They will move to Switzerland in early November. Hopes Beaton will visit then.

Liked the letter and the person who wrote it. It is 'sensitive and warm, and honestly troubled'. It is possible Beaton could overcome her conviction that it would not work, but if he does, he must remember that 'you start off with a terrible burden: always on your toes to prove that you were right and she was wrong'. But Beaton must try if it is what he wants. Is sure Abbott will do something, as 'he's much too shrewd not to'. Looks forward to seeing Beaton in Verbier.