Thursday / I don't see how I / can get to you dear - for / a massage-man comes / in the late afternoon / and pulls me to bits for / an hour, and then I can't / speed anywhere for a little / time - it is the most / hateful bore that one / can endure - but I have / promised to try it for a / month. / - and so all my leisure time / is eaten up. / Seven would be too late / an hour, wouldn't it? / but next week I am back / from Rottingdean on Thursday & could go / to you then. / This morning's news about / Poynter I am very glad / of. - he is the best / man / for the place, & it will please him - / my dear, the days go / very heavily - I am at / work fairly hard again - / & beginning to plan plans / but I drag my legs after / me or I go, in everything. / and it doesn't seem worth / while to begin work in / a morning - / I don't like missing you / to-day - but this daily / nuisance of the massear / who comes with hateful / punctuality makes it / impossible. / Your affec.est / B-J.
Sir E J Poynter, EB-J's brother-in-law, was made President of the Royal Academy after the death of Sir J E Millais in August 1896