Rex Whilstler berates Edith Olivier for not writing to him from Rome as she had promised to do, and for not writing to tell him that she had returned ill, despite her not being unwell. He admits his own faults in not thanking her for a wonderful weekend in Wilton and the Christmas present of a set of Voltaire’s works that she gave him. He concludes by speaking of his regret at not giving her a gift or coming to say goodbye to her before her trip.