[On headed notepaper for Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland]: - Thanks his father for his letter. Dreamt last night that he was 'conversing with a conservative', who said that 'there would be an election this spring' in which the Conservatives would 'lose 100 seats', primarily due to his father's speeches. Cannot remember much else, but 'hope[s] it will come true, if not this Easter, at all events some day'.
Is glad the picture [the portrait of his father by Frank Holl?] 'looks well': liked it a great deal when he saw it two weeks ago, but it was 'then only on the floor'. Has 'two copies of verses' in a drawer at Inkerman, one about Inkerman and another on a quotation in ancient Greek which is 'not so good'. Does not think he has a rough copy here, but will send one if he can find one, or if he writes another good one. Is 'so glad' Hallam is teaching them, as he is very interesting.
Has been 'working hard and preparing [his] construing', though he 'came to grief once with Welldon': after preparing carefully 'with the notes', he could not remember one particular part, and Welldon thought he had 'not prepared it at all'. This is 'the result of a reputation for not preparing' which he must try hard to reverse. Has not been late 'for any schools'.
They had some 'fair skating last Thursday', but there was a thaw the morning after; was glad he did not send for his skates as he almost did. His house is 'very good this term'; he does not mean in games, though they are 'not bad in torpids'. Has been reading Realmah [by Arthur Helps] and likes it very much. Charlie is reading it now and has lent Robert [Kinglake's] Eothen, which he will read when he has time.
