[On headed notepaper for Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland]:- Thanks his mother for her letter. Has not gone running yet, but since football has 'come to an end' for his house as they have been beaten in the torpids he could go out sometime. His house were 'very weak at the beginning of the term' in torpids, but improved as they went on and 'did not do so very badly in the matches'. Welldon has told him that he is to 'go in for the scholarships', so he is studying for them. Has 'been thinking about the hexameter'; has an idea he thinks 'will suit' but has not got very far yet. Charlie came second in the 'school footer Ones [?]', behind [Edgar?] Stogdon; Robert thinks this is largely due to Charlie 'slipping at a critical moment', but still he 'did very well indeed'.
Is glad Georgie is better now, and asks whether he will be 'going up [for?] the scholarships' soon. Very interesting 'that the Times should thus be smashing up' [a reference to the Parnell Commission's proof that the letters published by the Times in 1887, alleging that Parnell had supported the Phoenix Park murders, were forgeries by Richard Pigott]; asks if they are 'now proved to be wrong on everything', or if this is 'only a part of the case'. Asks if she can ask Hearn [a family servant] to get him some razors, as he currently has to use other people's, 'which are not always very sharp'. Is 'getting on very well with Welldon'.