Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - Sorry the 'pretty girl' [Hylkia Halbertsma, see 46/100] cannot stay with Elizabeth; wonders if she will have more success elsewhere; wonders whether, when Robert is settled with Madame Palumbo, Elizabeth could visit the Grandmonts at Taormina. Wishes she could have heard the concert [organised by Dolmetsch, see 46/100]; asks whether it was an artistic and financial success. Asks how she got on with the Arnolds; he [Ernest Penrose Arnold] 'had his faults' but both Robert and George owe much to him and his school [Wixenford]. The Arthur Severns have been visiting; she was Ruskin's niece [actually second cousin], and they live at Brantwood. Sir Courtenay Ilbert has also been; his daughters [Olive and Jessie] stayed with C[harles] and M[ary], as did F[rancis Dyke-] Acland and H[ilton] Young. George and Janet return to London on Monday; they want Robert and Elizabeth to dine with them and Caroline on 19 October, with a 'little party afterwards'; they could go to the theatre the night before. Amused by the idea of Elizabeth teaching a class; they are lucky to get her. Hopes [Helen] Fry is recovering; 'wretched for her' to be away from home as well.
Harnham, Monument Green, Weybridge. - On the question of finding work for [Lascelles] Abercrombie: U. Ext. [University Extension] unlikely to be helpful as, except for some 'sensible' people such as Miss Partridge at Ashtead, there is a prejudice against those who did not go to Oxford or Cambridge. Thinks it would be best to recommend Abercrombie to Dr Roberts, who runs the London University Extension board. If Abercrombie sends Forster a syllabus, he will mention him to Miss Partridge (Ashtead is a London centre). Discusses fees. Abercrombie knows Miss Embleton, a friend of Roberts. Asks whether 'the Humphs' [?] can get him something at "The Times". Has dined with Sir Edward Grey, who was 'charming and jolly,' but he suspects Grey would like neither his books nor himself if he knew them better; was taken by the Francis Aclands; likes Mrs Acland very much. Is reading [Ferdinand] Gregorovius.
2, Cheyne Gardens. - Thanks Bessie for the 'long letter from Aulla' about a month ago; apologises for taking so long to answer 'as usual' but knows she is 'of a kind & forgiving spirit'. The letter came in the middle of the General Election, when 'one thought of nothing else'; it was a 'glorious time', and she even went to the Strand on the first night and saw the 'great Manchester results' [such as Arthur Balfour's defeat]. Generally though she was rather solitary, since George was away almost all month working for Charles, or Francis Acland; had to 'console [herself] by chalking in the map with more & more red squares every day'; her 'feelings got very torn' about her brother, standing in Wiltshire as a Protectionist, since his opponent [John Massie] was the sort of Liberal she has least sympathy with, 'the narrow-minded Nonconformist sort', beginning to hope Arnold would at least cut down his majority. Instead it was doubled, and Arnold had only the 'poor consolation of being invited to the Party Meeting at Lansdowne House'. Words 'quite fail' her over Balfour's 'last manoeuvre'.
The family then all went to Welcombe, so that Charles, George, and Molly could rest 'after their fearful exertions'; of course Mary and Pauline were 'by far the most important members of the party'; contrasts Pauline's placidity with Mary's 'rampaging'; in fact they discovered Pauline was underweight, so Molly has stopped breastfeeding on doctor's orders and now she is 'flourishing'. Very 'jolly' about Charlie's Charity Commissionership; 'makes one feel he hasn't been left out after all'; he says the work is quite interesting. Mary is now one, which makes Janet 'feel tremendously old too!'. George has almost finished the proofs of his book on Meredith ["The Poetry and Philosophy of George Meredith"]; her own translation [of Wilhelm Bousset's "Jesus"] has just come out, though she is sure '[n]o one will ever buy it'. Hopes that Bessie and Bob are returning in the middle of March; things are 'buzzing over here'.
Hallington Hall, Newcastle-on-Tyne. - Thanks Bessie for her letter after Eleanor Acland's death: feels 'terribly bereft' even for herself, as Eleanor was 'such a strong tower of friendship in any trouble', but it is hard to bear the thought of 'all those poor men left desolate'. She had been intermittently ill all year, had her appendix out at a nursing home in Exeter, and seemed to be recovering, but was taken ill suddenly in the night with a blood clot in the heart and died in twenty minutes. Only Maisie, and her 'devoted secretary', were with her: Francis was in London at his mother's. Eleanor's young daughter died nine years ago; believes she had 'come to feel that death would mean reunion', so hopes that there was a 'ray of light' for her in her last moments; her husband and sons only have 'their manhood. Poor dears!'. Humphry is very happy in Labrador: his spine trouble seems to be quite over, and he does very heavy work but says he is 'strong as a horse'. He is 'also choir-master, play-producer, lesson-reader in church, house-painter, partridge-hunter and many other things'; has a room in the 'little hospital at North West River' and is one of a 'community of about thirty people and some children, all of English stock'; communications will now become difficult as the sea has frozen.
Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Sure Elizabeth and Robert will have followed the election results with 'much delight and astonishment'; it is extraordinary; a 'peaceful revolution, that have far reaching consequences'. The results in Surrey, Cheshire and Harrow, as well as Wales, are 'very wonderful'; the Tories will probably only have about a hundred and sixty seats. It 'seems a great responsibility to have such a majority'; hopes the Government rises to the occasion. Charles and George have been working in Yorkshire since the Elland election and F[rancis] Acland's success is hoped for; they and their families will all be at Welcombe by Wednesday and 'it will be amusing to have both the babies'. Meta Hearn [daughter of William Hearne, the butler] was taken to hospital with sudden appendicitis; she is recovering now but her parents were very anxious. The Tories here are 'very civil'; 'of course' they do not talk politics, but she thinks it has been a 'great shock'; the 'clergy everywhere are very quiet'. The little piano is in good tune; hopes Mary will play. Asks if Elizabeth has had much music, and whether [Lina] Waterfield can accompany her.
Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Pleasant to get Elizabeth's letter 'with an atmosphere of Italy about it'; was very sorry to leave Rome; the journey home was not pleasant but they 'arrived without misadventure'. Spent a day in London; Janet and George came to lunch; she seems well but George is tired, having been working hard to finish his Meredith book ["The Poetry and Philosophy of George Meredith"]. He is going now to 'electioneer' for Charlie and F[rancis Dyke] Acland; was in a 'very pessimistic modd', but she thinks things are 'very promising'. Is not sure about the local constituency; the candidate [Malcolm Kincaid-Smith] is 'not very good, & it can hardly be won', but 'even Birmingham is fluttered' and Lionel [Holland] is said to have hopes. Aunt Margaret has gone to stay at the 'Plough & Harrow Hotel' in Edgbaston to be near him; they are much amused and only hope she does not over-tire herself. Sir George is 'fairly well'; expects he will be all right when he gets to work. Cooper [Elizabeth Cooper, cook?] has come to Welcombe with them; she can get about but is not to work this month. They will be very quiet this month; she is not going to Charlie's election; is sure Mary will be a 'capital help'. Mrs Whitby has 'taken them all in - Pauline and nurse [Lister?] included!'. Glad Elizabeth had 'an amusing dance & fête'; asks how long they will stay, and if Robert's work is going well. Asks her to remind Robert to write to Sir George. Asks what Mr [Aubrey] Waterfield is painting. The Burlington House collection is 'not large, but well worthy seeing'; there is a 'most delightful Franz Hals' and much else. They have brought many new books to Welcombe: 'Holman Hunt, [Herbert Paul's life of] Froude, Churchill [Winston's Churchill's life of his father Randolph, etc etc' but spend much time reading newspapers. Has 'an election map to mark' and the accounts to do. G[eorge], J[anet] and Mary are coming to stay after the election. Booa is glad to have the Trevelyans back. The 'heating answers very well'.
Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - Glad that the work [on the new house] is going on 'so steadily and quickly' and that Miss Waterfield [artist and horticulturalist, sister of Aubrey Waterfield] likes the site and view so much. He and Caroline are hosting 'an immense young dinner party today': George, Janet, and Dorothy Howard from Wallington; Charles and Mary, [Francis Dyke] Acland, Hilton Young and Gertrude Bell from Cambo. Wishes Elizabeth could 'carry out her kind wish about old Mrs Thompson of Harwood [see 46/99]'. Has written to instruct the second five hundred pounds to be paid; gives advice not to sell stock in the last ten days of the quarter.