Thanks her for writing. Sends his love to Mary. Reports that he is living up [in Cambridge] 'in much peace and prosperity now the undergraduates are gone down and [his] hayfever is kept at arm's length by a careful regimen.' Asks her when she intends to go abroad, and hopes that she will enjoy the trip. Contemplates staying in England during the long vacation, and intends to 'go North' in August to see everyone who wants to see him.
Reports that a friend of his [Edwin Charles Clark] got married the previous week, and that he wishes to find out something about his wife - Miss Kitson of Leeds - as they are going to be living in Cambridge. Reports that a book of travels by Lady Duff-Gordon has been published, and a friend of his who has had it to review has recommended it. Refers to another 'interesting book': 'Palgrave's journey across Arabia' [W. G. Palgrave's Personal Narrative of a Year's Journey through Central and Eastern Arabia (1862-1863)], and also to Miss Yonge's last novel. Of the latter, he claims that he got bored with it towards the end. Declares that Miss Oliphant's present story in Blackwood['s Magazine] 'sends [him] into fits'.
Asks his mother to tell Edward [Benson] that he was sorry he could not come to examine, and that the man who is going is a friend of his.