Palace Hotel, Rome. - Glad that Robert and Elizabeth are enjoying the castle [at Aulla, home of Aubrey and Lina Waterfield]. He and Caroline have had some pleasant expeditions: to Ostia in 'the American Ambassador's motor, a fearful joy'; to Castel Gandolfo and Nemi; and to Grottaferrata, where they saw an exhibition of medieval ecclesiastical objects in the old monastery and he had a fine walk around the castle into the valley of the Almo. But on an expedition to the Villa Livia, he fell and hurt himself, and brought on the worst attack of rheumatism he has ever had; this is his fourth day in bed. They are disappointed about Charles being left out, but he is 'behaving very well'. Was moved by the death of [Arthur] Humphreys-Owen, and even more by that of [Sir Richard] Jebb, about whom his feelings were 'rather ideal' since first seeing him as 'an elegant, rather black-looking, rather too carefully dressed freshman in [Herbert] Malkin's rooms'; Malkin reminded him this year that when he asked Sir George to meet Jebb, he cried '"What! Jebb? Oh, joy!!'. They intend to leave Rome on 28 December and to be in England by 4 January, but he must be well to travel.
Penrhôs, Holyhead.—Is sorry to see that his friend (Herbert Malkin) has died. Asks how long he will stay at Hopeman. She enjoyed her stay at Killarney with the Kenmares. Bongie, Oc, and all her family are at Penrhôs, and she is sorry she has to go to Ardgowan tomorrow. She thinks she will enjoy being twenty-six. Invites Montagu to Penrhôs later in the year.
(Dated the 23rd, but actually written in the early hours of the following day.)
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Transcript
Penrhôs, Holyhead
Aug 23rd 1913
I dont consider that you deserve a letter from me, yours was so scrappy & scanty and in return for quite a long one from me too!, but I’ve got a terrible fit of insomnia (its 2.30 and I’ve tried everything include Villette {1} to read and am still wide awake) and letters are a good way to spend the time for the writer, tho’ not calculated to be much fun for the reader.
I was so very sorry to see that your friend in your “other life” had died {2}, I am afraid that will have been an unhappiness to you. Does it alter your plans, how long do you stay at Hopeman? Hopeman seems to be rather a success, I had letters from Violet & the Prime {3}, both of whom seem fairly happy there. I wish I was going. I had a delicious 3 days in Ireland at Killarney staying with Kenmores, its the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen, wonderful lakes and mountains, with nothing whatever to do, but then the atmosphere of the place is such that it robs one of any desire to do anything, except sit and look. Then, I came back here where we’ve got Bongie and Oc and all my family, sisters uncles and aunts. Its very delicious and I regret Ardgowan to morrow very much. Geoffrey whom I shall find there is my only consolation.
I’ve just passed into a new division of my life, I was 26 yesterday, I do not feel much depressed by this fact, I dont mind leaving 25 behind, I’ve not enjoyed it very much, and I have a feeling that I shall enjoy 26 somehow. I believe the tigers bone you gave me is going to bring me luck. They are supposed to be lucky arent they?
Do write and tell me about Hopeman and how the Prime is and Margot and all of them. If your plans are altered and you find a gap in them towards the end of September or beginning of October, propose yourself here.
Was Aunt Rosalinde at Castle Howard when you went as you feared?
Yrs
Venetia
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The letter is dated 23 August, but, as is clear from the first sentence, it was written in the early hours of the following day.
{1} Charlotte Brontë’s novel, first published in 1853.
{2} The reference is to Herbert Malkin, who had died on the 18th.
{3} For the latter, dated 21 August, see H. H. Asquith: Letters to Venetia Stanley, No. 17.