July 31 Tuesday – At Dollis Hill House in London, England Sam wrote to Richard Watson Gilder regarding a cable sent previously.

It said all I can say now; for I am 25,000 words deep in a story which I began a good while ago (in Vienna, I think) & I mean to finish it now, without making any literary excursions to right or left of it…I think Dollis Hill is a rather lucky strike for us—a farm, with hay & forest trees & sheep, & plenty of space & seclusion, 300 yards from London. Good-bye till I see you [MTP: American Art Assoc. catalog, Mar. 4 1921 Item 149].

Sam also wrote to H.H. Rogers.

It is too bad about Rice. Is he going to come out all right, do you think? I think it strange he did not take your advice before making his ventures, your being right there at his elbow.

We have had a time of it getting settled in this farm-house 300 yards from London; but we are settled at last, Mrs. Clemens has gotten herself reconciled to housekeeping, the servants are first-rate, & things are going smoothly….Jean & her maid drive in, every day, 45 minutes from here to Kellgren’s. There is a railway station 2 miles from our house, with trains every 2 or 3 minutes which take you to Barker street—3 ½ miles—in 17 minutes. …

We go home in October or November, we can’t tell which, yet. Pond offers me $10,000 for 10 nights, but I do not feel strongly tempted, & Mrs. Clemens ditto. It could help Bliss’s sales, but I would rather settle down & go on with the tale I am writing. It looks as if we shall go to Hartford, but we can’t make up our minds. Half of the friends there are dead, & we sort of shudder at the prospect [MTHHR 448].