Letters mainly from Maude Herbert and Mary Herbert, some written jointly, to Hubert Parry. Dating mainly from 1864 to 1871, they were written in secret from Lady Herbert, who strongly disapproved of the affinity between her daughter Maud and the composer. Although presenting only one side of the correspondence, the letters confirm that, despite Lady Herbert's determination to separate the young lovers, they met and exchanged letters with the help of Maud's sister Mary. Eventually, Maud and Hubert became secretly engaged in 1870. On hearing the news, Maude’s brother George, 13th Earl of Pembroke, insisted that Lady Herbert was informed. In consequence, Lady Herbert ordered Parry to break contact with her daughter. The present collection includes a draft of Parry's reply (dated 9 July 1870) promising to comply with her wishes yet at the same time expressing his intention 'at the end of a sufficient period … to come forward', if their feelings towards each other have not changed. At one point, Maude herself appears resigned to the situation: 'There is no earthly chance of your ever being permitted to return to Wilton, so we may not meet for years, & during that interval you may forget me. Better you should for your own happiness'. It is known from other sources that in order to satisfy his father’s expectations and to pacify Lady Herbert, Parry reluctantly entered into an insurance business partnership at Lloyds of London. Lady Herbert’s opinion of him improved and he and Maude were eventually married in 1873. Other correspondents include Agnes Gladstone and Mary Gladstone, daughter and sister-in-law respectively of William Gladstone (1809-1898).