Wed. Rome [Roma]. Dearest Mother. When my literary remains come to be published the letters from Rome will not occupy an important place. I have not a minute to write but I must sieze spaces, between archaeologists, to tell you what I am doing. I got Father's telegram about Margaret, but she did not come to breakfast so I sent her a note to the Via Giulia to try and arrange a meeting. She left however at 10 and we did not see one another, for which I was very sorry. I spent the whole of Monday in Campagna. Mme de Filippi, kind soul, took us out in the motor and provided an excellent lunch. The party was Dr Ashby, Miss van Demen, Mr Newton and two other architects from the School. It was heavenly. We looked at wonderful ruined villas all day long and I began to realize what I did not know about Rome. This impression was strengthened next day, as you shall hear. I got home at 6 and went to the school where I found Löwy and another learned German having tea. They stayed till 7.30! after which E. [Eugénie] and I came back here to dine by ourselves. Yesterday morning I spent 3 hours with Delbrück who gave me the most wonderful disquistion I have ever heard on the history of architecture. It was a regular lecture; he had prepared all his notes and all his books to illustrate what he was saying. He is a very remarkable man and as he talked I got the hang of things that had always remained mysteries to me. He ended by saying that it was absurd that I should be so ignorant of the Roman monuments and by telling me that I ought to come here for 6 weeks to study. He is perfectly right I am contemplating quite seriously whether I will not come here in Oct. and Nov. and study. I wd like to do it before I go back to the East. It's a bore, but after all 2 months is a short time in one's life and if it wd give me a real hold of Roman problems, it wd be infinitely well spent - we'll talk of this when I come home. I lunched with the Blancs, E. was also there and Mr Richmond. Baron Blanc, Mr R. and I went afterwards to the enchanting Villa of Papa Giulio where we spent a delicious hour, and then Mr R. and I walked about the Tiber [Teveres] till 5 when I went to see Dr Haseloff, head of the Prussian Institute. He showed me plans and photographs till 7 and then came a moment when I wished that there were fewer learned men in Rome and more tea - for he gave me none, dear old thing. So I flew home to dress and dined with Dr Ashby to meet Sabatier, the Filippis and some English people. After which we all went to a party at the Pasolinis and so to bed. Ever your affectionate daughter Gertrude
I'm just off to see ruins with Delbrück!