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The Grove, Harrow: - The enclosed [school reports? no longer present] will show that Georgie has 'done well so far', but that Bobby 'has fairly broken down again'. He 'made good resolutions, & tried fitfully to carry them out, but never thoroughly'. Hallam has described Bobby as 'at best very variable'; he has been 'rather more regular' with Bowen, mostly because Bowen 'made him almost by main force...' In Welldon's Tuesday lesson, Bobby has 'twice badly [construed?]'.

Finally Owen, who is taking Hallam's lessons while Hallam is ill, discovered two days ago that Bobby 'did not know a word of the lesson, & had made no notes of the last one, & was writing a letter; Owen therefore 'sent him up' [to the Headmaster], and Welldon sent him down to the bottom of his form. This will not affect Bobby's progress, as he would not have 'got his remove this time', but it 'is meant to be a slur and a threat together'.

Bobby is 'not the least of a man yet', having no 'real conscience or desire of self control'. Bobby 'isn't bad in a great many ways', partly because of 'house affection', but 'character & grit have yet to come'. Bowen expects they will, but Bobby is currently 'quite a fourth form boy as regards notions of duty & responsibility'. Thinks they 'must be patient & keep him in steady control'; Bobby has 'a good temper, & can bear being kept in order', and the 'social forces' will gradually start to have an effect.

It is 'hard to keep from overrating' Bobby intellectually, and 'one is always tempted to expect too much'. He is 'not a first rate scholar', Bowen doubts whether he is ability is first rate, but is not sure; however, his 'literary ability is so far above the average (together with a good memory) that it impresses [?] upon everyone.' It is 'extraordinary, & a thing not to be cultivated, perhaps,... but to be looked on at'. Wonders whether it would be good to leave off Bobby's Latin verses for half a year, and 'make him learn history or German or something hard'.

Had hoped that Bobby's 'football development' would be good for him, and it was a little, but the good effect 'did not last'.

On headed notepaper for the Harrow Philathletic Club, with 'The Grove, Harrow' added in Robert Trevelyan's hand:- Charlie visited on Saturday, and they 'had a very pleasant day'; he saw 'the school do very well [in a cricket match], and Nigel [Bertrand Nigel Bosworth Smith?] nearly making a 100 runs' and get 'into the XI'. The 'Boz family was in as great a state of excitement' as when Robert's father visited. Charlie's hat was 'broken by a cricket ball'.

The school Greek play will be 'fairly good', but he does not think the English one [Poole's Paul Pry] will. Thinks the Don Quixote will suit him 'very well', as 'all [he wants] is to read it, and some of the pictures are amusing'; must not read it now and waste his time. Asks her to tell his father that he has 'met the Old Harrovian with the Majenta [sic] scarf whom he met at York station': Cook, 'an old Welldonite' [Thomas Percy Cooke?], whom Robert believes was 'rather a friend of Charlie's'. Met him yesterday at supper with Welldon, after 'reading for [his] last time' in Chapel.

Hears his father is coming on Thursday; asks if he is also coming on Speechday. 'Ted[d]y Butler is a beak here for a short time while Owen is ill'. Moss also 'is ill of influenza'; Robert is 'very sorry for him'.

[On headed notepaper for Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland]: - Did not have much time to write yesterday, so waited until today; hopes she got his postcard [45/150]. Mr Owen teaches Robert the epistles on Sunday and Monday morning; the lesson is an hour long, and involves taking down the notes Owen dictates. Nobody in the form does take down the notes, as 'they are absolutely ununderstandable', even those 'high in the form' take none, or 'very few'. Instead, the boys 'habitually write their Sunday letters' then (more than three quarters of the form'), do nothing, or 'possibly read novels'; boys have been caught by Mr Owen writing letters, but he has never taken much notice. Robert used to try to take notes, but 'understood so little of their meaning', and found what he did understand was 'uninstructive' and 'contrary' to what he has always been taught and believed, so ending up following the others' example, taking no notes and 'even now and then wrote a letter' Thinks that the letter-writing is the 'only part of [his] conduct which any reasonable person can blame' and even this is 'somewhat excusable' since everyone does it.

He was caught writing a letter to her last Sunday, and since he has 'never had any success in [his] theological studies', Owen sent him to Mr Welldon, who punished him by sending him to the bottom of his form 'in bill order'. This is not a severe punishment, and is 'never considered a disgrace', though 'being degraded out of the form altogether is'. Mr Bowen of course had to stop Robert's exeat, but 'did not seem very much displeased'. Is sorry that he did a 'bad construing for Mr Welldon', due to 'carelessness' not 'neglect of preparation'. Has been doing well in his other work.

Mr Hallam is ill with the toothache, and Mr Moss and Mr Kempthorne have been taking them instead; Robert likes Mr Kempthorne best. Sends the verses; afraid he has been 'rather long in finishing' them but has not much time. Reminds her that he is not doing more as a punishment, but because Mr Kempthorne 'takes an interest' in his work. Is afraid even now they are 'not a very complete set. They are an imaginary 7th Book of Lucretius'. Ran to Elstree today, but 'not so as to overwork' himself.

Postmarked Harrow; addressed to his mother at 8 Grosvenor Crescent, London S. W. - Is sorry to have to tell her that his 'absit has been stopped'. Does not think his offence has been 'very great', but does not have time to tell her everything now; will write tomorrow. Charlie, 'who ought to be a good judge', is not angry with him at all, and 'Mr Bowen himself did not seem to think it very serious'. However, Robert accepts that he 'was to blame to some extent'. The 'row is with Mr Owen'. He is getting on very well in other respects. Hallam is ill. Will 'send the verses tomorrow'.