Showing 21 results

Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Upset at Elizabeth having 'such a bad attack'; was afraid she was unwell when she was at Welcombe, and the 'hot journey' must have made it worse. She herself has ben troubled again by nosebleeds; had to lie still all day yesterday. Glad that Mrs Tovey is with Elizabeth, and hopes Dr Cornish will keep her quiet. Was 'a great pleasure' to see her, and Julian is 'delightful'; hears the Warwick exp[edition]n was very successful.

Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Received Elizabeth's letter of the 13th this morning; thinks she is quite right, and it will be better for her to stay at home. This did not occur to Caroline as she thought the distance to London was much further; will be much less trouble and expense than coming to Welcombe; hopes that Dr Cornish will approve, so Elizabeth can then find out what a London surgeon would cost. Knows how large Welcombe is when one is ill, and how tiring Elizabeth would find it; also Hastings's health has broken down so there would be no-one to go to town for things. Would probably be good to take Julian to the sea before the operation; thinks the south coast is currently safe. Thinks the surgeon will probably not need to come after the operation is over if Elizabeth has a 'good nurse & Dr Cornish'. Ends mid sentence: 'I do think it will be...'

Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Bob's visit was timely, as Sir George was not well and it did him good to talk; he has recovered now. Hopes Elizabeth will see Dr Cornish; the nettle rash shows she needs treatment. Does not think she should eat porridge: she herself gets a rash when she eats it. The children are stopping until Monday since the weather is cold. Though Marjorie was indeed 'very dull & stupid' when Robert was here, she has brightened up; she is backward in learning but 'quite intelligent... and rather good with her fingers'. Hopes Miss Clark will teach her. The little one [Florence] is a 'vigorous clean little imp'. Glad Julian is improving; thinks children gain self-control as they grow. Wonders whether Elizabeth will get to London soon; would be good for him to see other children's work. Is interested to hear about Jan Hubrecht [his diplomat posting to Tokyo] is 'a fearful long way to go', and she half wonders at him taking his wife and children. Booa is definitely recovering, but slowly; she has been ill for three months. Sir George liked 'the Butler book' [Henry Festing Jones's edition of Samuel Butler's notebooks?]. Caroline would like to read the Tagore. Read 'the Poetry Annual' ["An Annual of New Poetry", edited by Robert Trevelyan?] with interest; 'if not very striking [it] is thoroughly pleasant reading'; asks when she should order it.

The Old House, Dorking. - Certifies that Robert Trevelyan is subject to 'severe attacks of lumbago... easily brought on by strain or chill'; is sure the 'rigours of military training' and the exposure to all weathers associated with it would quickly bring on an attack 'which would render him useless.

Printed message on verso, 'With Dr Cornish's Compliments', corrected by hand to read 'With... kind regards'; note that he 'hope[s] this will do!' also added by hand

The Old House, Dorking. - Certifies that Robert Trevelyan is subject to 'severe attacks of lumbago... easily brought on by strain or chill'; is sure the 'rigours of military training' and the exposure to all weathers associated with it would quickly bring on an attack 'which would render him useless.

With the stamp of the National Service Medical Board, Guildford, 14 Jun 1918.

Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Sorry to hear that Julian is 'so unwell'; thinks Elizabeth ought to get him to the seaside at once. Mary and Humphry left this morning, better after their stay and sad to leave. Janet is staying with them at Stocks Cottage this winter, not in London. Asks if Dr Cornish thinks Julian's liver might be troubling him and causing 'the depression'; Booa [Mary Prestwich] thought he was 'a good colour' when he left. Mary has been without nurse and governess for a week; Pauline claims 'mother loves it', but Caroline thinks she is 'rather tired of it', despite her 'astounding energy'. Sir George sends his love and thanks Robert for his letter.

Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Elizabeth's news [that she is pregnant] 'very important'; hopes that all will go well; she should see the doctor about taking precautions against the trouble she had last time; perhaps she should see Dr Phillips again. She should have a good nurse in the house well in advance, not Nurse Godwin who is 'not first rate'; hopes Nurse Shepherd is. Tells Elizabeth to let her know what Dr Cornish thinks. If the operation has to be this autumn, thinks it would be good for Elizabeth to be at Welcombe; does not like the idea of her 'having the anxiety of it now'. She and Booa [Mary Prestwich] will make plans for her stay. Janet went on Monday; will tell Molly, but she sees her rarely and always in a crowd.

The Shiffolds. - Bessie sends thanks to his mother for her 'kind letter', which came this morning; she was planning to suggest that she and Julian should come to Welcombe on Monday, but yesterday Julian 'was rather unwell, and has evidently got influenza'; he is currently in bed 'with a temperature, though nothing serious'. Dr Cornish came this morning, and 'seemed to think it was the ordinary thing' and that Julian would have to stay in bed for two or three days. Unfortunate that it should come, as Alice and Peter [Elms] are 'only just recovering, so the household is a little disorganized'. Julian is also 'fretful as he wants to get up'; but Robert expects he will get used to it. Bessie needs to be with him, so cannot write; will probably do so tomorrow. Though it is a 'nuisance, and tiring for her', there is no need for alarm. Otherwise, they would much liked to have gone to Welcombe. Robert 'only had a single night of it' and was nearly well by next morning. Bessie is well, though tired.

The Shiffolds. - Bessie is 'going on very well'; Dr C[ornish] came today and 'seemed quite satisfied'. Molly should be here in about an hour. Nurse Godwin is leaving tomorrow, and Nurse Shepherd arriving.

Asks her to thank his father for his letter [12/189] and the enclosure, the 'old Harrovian's letter'. Bessie has met him: he called here a 'year or two ago' when Robert was out, and had his book with him. Bessie says he was 'a rather mild seedy-looking sort of man, probably a little mad, though excitable'; his letters seem to Robert 'quite mad'. Bessie wishes she had looked at the book more carefully, but it 'seemed to be poor stuff'. Robert thinks the 'poor wretch was probably tramping the country', visiting the Old Harrovians whose addresses he could find 'to try and make them buy a copy'; he sent a letter to them afterwards which was similar to the one to Robert's father, and 'seemed quite mad'. Will write soon to his father and return the enclosure. The old Harrovian was 'much older' than Robert, and 'certainly not at the Grove in Bowen's time'.

The Enticknaps have generally taken things [the dismissal of their son Gussie from the gardens at Wallington] 'more sensibly' than Robert expected. They are angry with Keith, which 'cannot be helped, as they cannot be told the real reasons [for Gussie's dismissal] so naturally they thought he should have written earlier to warn them'. They are though 'anxious to do the right thing with Gussie now; Robert and Bessie think they are right in 'wanting to apprentice him as a carpenter, or possibly a smith, and having him to live with them'. The Enticknaps see that this would mean leaving the Shiffolds and are ready to do this; Robert thinks they are 'right on the whole', and they have been 'perfectly nice' about it. It will of course be difficult to replace them, but with luck Robert and Bessie may be able to find a childless married couple. Meanwhile, perhaps a cottage could be found for the Enticknaps nearby, so that Enticknap could come for the day. In some ways Robert and Bessie are sorry to lose the Enticknaps, as they had 'great merits' and 'in important things were thoroughly trustworthy', but they also sometimes gave them 'a good deal of trouble', and in the long term their leaving is probably for the best. Since the change cannot take place at once, Gussie will need to be here for a while, but Robert thinks he will 'be on his best behaviour'. Bessie has talked everything over with Mrs Enticknap and is not at all worried. They have had a 'reference about a married couple', but expect they will have found a place by now'.

The Shiffolds. - Bessie is 'going on very well'; the doctor came today and was pleased, he will not come again until Thursday. [Edward] Keith's letters to Robert and the Enticknaps came this morning; Mrs Enticknap has 'on the whole taken [Keith's dismissal of her son Gussy as a gardener's boy at Wallington] sensibly, and is not making a grievance of it'. She is 'Of course... slow and rather stupid in not seeing how unsatisfactory Gussy is', but that was to be expected as she 'cannot be told the full truth'; however, she does 'to some extent recognise his weaknesses', and is willing to try to find 'the right kind of employment for him'; it might be best for him to go into the Navy, or a trade such as 'carpentering or a blacksmith's'. She is 'perfectly nice about it' towards Robert and Bessie, and seems to accept that Gussy had to be given notice. Robert thinks Keith 'has behaved very considerately and wisely'; will write to him about it.

Will write tomorrow; will finish his father's book tonight, so may write to him instead of his mother.

The Shiffolds. - Bessie has had 'another quite good night' and is getting on 'quite well'. Mrs Grandmont is coming next Saturday; Molly may come for a night before that. Dr C[ornish] says that 'as far as he can see the kidney trouble is quite at an end', but will 'keep analysing etc to see if he can detect anything wrong'; however, he thinks it was 'solely due to pregnancy' and has not yet revealed any further weakness.

Thanks his mother for sending him Keith's letter; thinks he has 'behaved very wisely', and neither he nor Bessie has any doubt that 'his suspicions [of Gussie Enticknap] are correct'. Is sure he will 'write tactfully to the Enticknaps'; his mother will see that he and Bessie cannot speak to them of the matter until they have heard from Keith. Expects Keith will give 'general unsatisfactoriness and untrustworthiness' as his reasons for dismissal, and they will 'have to accept that'. Bessie tends to think they will be 'sensible' and feel that Keith had ' very good reasons, which he cannot fully share with them'. They will certainly look out for work for him at once; until it is found he will have to stay here, but 'they are the last people to wish him to remain idle. They are unwise in some things, but not in that way'. Perhaps Gussie could 'go into the navy, where he would be under discipline'.

Bessie sends her love; she is 'longing to write', but thinks she should put this off for a few more days. Robert will write next tomorrow afternoon, not in the morning. Adds a postscript sending thanks to his father for his book, which has arrived; will 'write directly'.

The Shiffolds. - Bessie is doing well, and had a good night; the doctor will come again tomorrow, and Robert will write again tomorrow morning. Aunt Annie came yesterday, and his mother will have had her letter by now; it was 'very pleasant seeing her', though he did not think she looked very well. Still, she said she 'was only tired and wanted lunch'. George also came, and 'seemed quite well and cheerful'.

The Shiffolds. -- The doctor was 'so satisfied today' with Bessie's progress that he will not call tomorrow, but come again on Friday; he says 'in some ways he has never seen so quick a recovery, at least after so serious a confinement'. Aunt Annie is coming in a motor to lunch tomorrow, which Robert is very glad of, and George may come as well.

It was the 'luckiest thing that nurse Godwin could come [after Bessie went unexpectedly into labour, the child being born dead] still nurse Fry did wonderfully well when she was alone', under trying circumstances. They will probably keep her until nurse Shepherd can come (they will probably hear about this today). Is glad the weather is warmer, though it is 'horrid today'. Hopes his parents will not catch colds.

Asks if she has the Rev. Stopford Brooke's address, or whether he is 'too old now to be worth sending a circular [for Robert's latest book] to'; also that of the Rev. W. Trevelyan [William Bouverie Trevelyan?] 'You see I am angling for the clerical public'.

The Shiffolds. -- Bessie is 'getting on quite well'; does not think it will be necessary to wire today after Dr Cornish's visit, as she definitely continues to recover. Has stopped Molly coming: it was 'really out of the question, though very kind of her to want to'. Will write again in the afternoon. Thanks his mother for her kind letter, and asks her to thank Booa [Mary Prestwich] for hers. George may come tomorrow.

The Shiffolds. -- The doctor [Dr Cornish?] was 'quite pleased with E[lizabeth's] progress' this morning; will write again tomorrow morning. Thanks his mother for the addresses [to add to a list for a circular about his latest book, The Bride of Dionysus]. Madame Grandmont will probably come on Saturday the 17th; until then Bessie 'will have to be kept quite quiet and hardly see people', so Robert has told Molly, who wanted to come now, that she 'must on no account do so, even if she [Molly, who had been ill] was in better health'.

Sent from Holmbury St. Mary to Lady Trevelyan at Welcombe, S[tratford] on Avon. - '[Bessie] Doing very well doctor [Cornish] quite satisfied'.

The Shiffolds, Holmbury St Mary, Dorking. - Things have happened sooner than expected: fortunately Bessie is 'doing well, but there is a sad side to it, as the child when it was born was no longer alive'; expects Bessie will take longer than usual to recover, though Dr Cornish does 'not anticipate any further serious trouble, as the birth has relieved the pressure that caused the harm'. Seems a good thing this happened when it did, as if the pregnancy had continued it 'might soon have become dangerous'. Has not yet been up to see her and the doctor is still here, but expects he will have done so before the post goes. Dr Cornish brought nurse Godwin this morning, as she 'happened to be in Dorking'; she will stay a fortnight, then they will get nurse Shepherd. Supposes there is no need to keep nurse Fry, who 'did very well, though she was not a maternity nurse'; the doctor says that even if she had been, it would have made no difference. Hopes his parents 'will not allow this news to upset [them]. It is bad, but it might easily have been worse, and at least it is over'.

Has now seen the doctor again, who thinks everything is 'going on very well' and will come again tomorrow morning; meanwhile they have two nurses (has wired to stop nurse Shepherd coming this afternoon), so she need not be anxious about Bessie. Will tell his mother at once if anything is wrong. Dr Cornish did not give any indication that 'the state of things was so serious, in fact he does not seem to have expected what happened, though no doubt he knew it was possible', or Robert would have let his parents know. She seemed 'rather less well' over the last couple of days, but there was 'nothing to cause any apprehension'. But the 'beginning of the trouble (about 3 ocl. last night) turns out to have been an absolute necessity to prevent worse'. Everything was over by 10.30 this morning. Does not think she 'suffered much more pain than usual'. Hopes his mother will not mind him not telegraphing: there would not have been any point, since his parents were not expecting any news. She 'must not think of coming here'; does not think there would be any point in anyone coming at the moment.

Has not yet written to anyone, but will do to Charles and George. Bessie has not seen his father's 'kind letter to her with the enclosure [11/160]', meanwhile, Robert thanks him 'in her stead'. A letter from Molly says that Charles is 'a little better', as is her arm; hopes they will get away to London. Julian is well, and 'does not seem to mind the cold weather'. Will write together after the doctor has been, and will also send a line by the morning post to say how things are. His mother must not bother about 'those addresses [for a circulation list: see 46/184]': the book does not come out till Easter. She must not think of coming here for a fortnight or so; Mrs Grandmont is probably coming, and until then Bessie 'will have to be quite quiet'. Has not time to write more, as he must write to George and Charles. Would be 'very kind' if his mother would let Aunt Annie, and anyone else she thinks should be told, know.

Adds a postscript saying that he does not mean to suggest Dr Cornish 'should have taken a more serious view of the symptoms': he treated Bessie 'very carefully', but probably did not think it right to alarm Robert 'by talking of possibilities that might be groundless'; believes the doctor and nurses did 'everything that could be done'.

The Shiffolds, Holmbury St. Mary, Dorking. - Thanks his parents for their 'very kind letters'. Bessie is doing well. In general the baby has done well, but they 'have had a little anxiety, which is now much less, about his colour': this was at first good, but has 'shown a tendency to yellow, which naturally made nurse nervous'. Dr Cornish has seen him twice today and is 'practically certain that it is ordinary jaundice, and not so far a particularly bad case'; he is 'quite sure it is not the worse kind of malignant jaundice, such as the last case', though he is not yet absolutely certain it is not 'some less complete form of bad jaundice'. The baby's colour is better this afternoon, a good sign, and 'the bowels are acting well, which they did not in the other case'; he is also 'quite vigorous, and not sluggish'. Since various degrees of jaundice are 'extremely common in babies', the doctor and nurse would not have thought much of it, had it not been for the previous case.

Will of course write by the next post. Bessie is 'not worrying unnecessarily', though was of course nervous, as they all were. Dr Cornish is 'quite satisfied' with her. Hopes his parents will not be too anxious, as the doctor has been reassuring and the child 'certainly seems better'. His mother 'must not think of coming, as Molly is always here, and very helpful'. Thought it better not to say anything in the wire he sent today but to wait until the doctor's evening visit, and has now told them everything, keeping nothing back. 'Politics look bad', but C[harles] writes that 'things are not yet hopeless'. Is glad his father is better.

Adds a note on 'Wednesday morning [23 Feb]' that the baby did not have a good night, and his colour is not good at present. Will let them know what the doctor says when he comes.

The Shiffolds, Holmbury St. Mary, Dorking. - Everything so far has gone well, and Bessie is 'doing very well' [after the birth of their son]. The doctor came this morning, and was 'quite satisfied both with her and the child'. Thanks her for the telegram, which came this morning, and also the letter; hopes his father is 'going on well'. Unfortunate that the weather has been so bad: it does not matter to them much, but will prevent his father getting out. They will send [announcements of the birth] to the Times and Morning Post tomorrow, and Bessie would also like to send one to the Dorking and Leatherhead Advertiser for the neighbours' sake.

Will write again soon; will have 'finished writing to all the various people' by tonight. The child 'seems quite vigorous, and cries a great deal, and loudly, which is a good sign'.

Adds a postscript saying that for the present his friend [Stanley] Makower has 'got help elsewhere', but that if he 'does not come to some arrangement', Robert may 'have to help him later on'.

The Shiffolds.- His parents will already have received his telegram saying that the baby was born at 3.50 on Sunday afternoon; Bessie is 'very well, and had an easy time, and the baby seems strong and healthy'. He is 9 pounds and a quarter, 'a good weight', and a 'good colour'. Dr Cornish seemed 'very satisfied with both him and Bessie', and will come again tomorrow afternoon.

Molly came down from London this morning with Charles and Janet, and Bessie lunched with them; Charles and Janet left immediately afterwards, just as Enticknap was going for the doctor. There was a 'dreadful storm of wind and rain all the time', but nobody seemed the worse for it, and the doctor arrived in time.

They had their parents' letter [10/81?] this morning and are glad Robert's father is recovering, 'though slowly'. Expects Molly will have written them a better account of everything than he will be able to give; she has been a 'great help' and they are 'both very glad she could be here'. Everything so far has gone as well as it could, and the 'baby seems to have had a fine start in life'. Will be a 'great pleasure' to them when his parents are both able to see the baby.

Has 'so many letters to write' that he will say no more now, but will write again soon.

Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Mary called Dr Williams to see Phyllis, who is still unwell, so she stopped by on the way to examine Julian. She thinks he should wear the belt for a year, which should solve the problem [an umbilical hernia?], but that he is strong, healthy, and large for his age; she also thinks he risks becoming flat footed, so Caroline has spoken to his nurse about having a support put in his shoes. The sneezing does not matter; but she will give him the medicine which Dr Cornish has sent. Yesterday they took Miss [Lily] Noble to Belsay [the Middletons' home] and saw everyone but 'Mrs Hugh' who is doing well [after giving birth], and there were many enquiries about Elizabeth. Miss Noble then went home in her motor car. Julian was 'drawing motors this morning with great energy'. She is going to a nursing meeting this afternoon, then to tea with Mary. Hopes Mr B[ottomley] has recovered from the journey. Asks when she should start sending her letters to Elizabeth to the Netherlands.