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On headed notepaper for Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland]: - Thinks they will have their 'quarter marks' today; will tell her them at the end of the letter. Does not think he can come out second, though he might manage third or fourth. Thinks Charlie will also be placed today. Came third in the 'house small-hundreds', very close to Mitchell, who was second. Charlie won the house long-jump; he would not have done so if Henry 'had not sprained himself', but he still 'jumped very well; he also came second in the house hurdles.

[Writing later] He has returned from school, but he has not had his quarter marks. Was third last week. Will not hear their quarter marks until next Monday. Has 'got a composition copy', though could not win the prize as he got it last term; Moss says that he was 'really first'. Vanity [A. G. Watson] has gone to Greece, so Moss took them last week. It has been 'rather hot for the last few days'.

Gladstone is coming to tea with Welldon this evening; there is 'a crowd of chairs [?] waiting to see him'. Robert will bring some of his verses back. Hopes his grandfather is well.

[On headed notepaper for 8 Grosvenor Crescent, S.W.:]- Thanks his mother for her letter. It is 'very kind' of Booa [Mary Prestwich] to allow them to have Robert's room; he will write to her to thank her. The army [of toy soldiers?] 'was increased so much and is now so beautiful that Charlie has now been entirely won back to his old interest.

Expects she has heard that Robert did not win either of the prizes; does not much mind, at least about his Greek epigram as 'it was not on the subject and could not possibly have got it'. Welldon spoke to him about his hexameters, and said that if he had finished them and done more he would have won, as 'they were the best'; does not mind, as if Welldon says they were good that is better than winning. Has been working hard at other things and the Greek plays. Hopes Charlie will get the essay prize, though they 'are a long time in getting it out'.

Robert, Sanderson and Mitchell have 'just discovered du Maurier and... some other naughty little boy using a catapult, and have had to administer justice and also to take the catapult'; says they are 'very good house policemen'. Apologises for needing to ask for more money: it is 'against [his] principles to do so', but since his mother saw them he has paid a pound for 'school subscriptions', and another for a [cricket] bat which he bought here; one more pound will be enough. Adds a postscript saying that it rained so hard today that a match had to be put off; thinks Pope will get in but Oppenheim's chances of being picked are 'nearly all gone'; wishes 'it was the other way'.