Roundhurst, Haslemere. - Little news: Helen is more or less the same, though he thinks her sisters' visits help and her brother is going to see her soon, and this stage might go on for some time. He and Goldie [Dickinson] are enjoying Roundhurst, though he has been up at the British Museum all the week. Saw Binyon: does not think the anthology ["Garland of New Poetry" (1899)?] will be good; it is mostly Miss Coleridge and a few others; thinks Binyon has closed the subscription list. Asks Trevelyan to tell Berenson he is working on the dating of pictures: mentions two works by Gentile [Bellini]. Augustus [Enticknap] has whooping cough. A separate sheet added as postscript encourages Trevelyan to write a simple letter to Helen with advice on what to put: thinks 'part of the depression comes from an idea that she has done wrong and people disapprove'. Thanks Trevelyan's mother: grapes would be welcome.
Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - He and Caroline are very pleased with what Robert says about Charles's intended marriage [to Mary Bell]; they are 'delighted' by Charles's happiness and 'freedom from restlessness'. [All their sons] are 'very nicely settled now'; hopes the plans for Robert and Elizabeth's new house come about. They have Sir John and Lady Evans, the [Thomas?] Hogkins, [Herbert Woodfield?] Paul, and the Henry Gregs; Greg is their trustee, 'a very nice, clever fellow, and a good liberal'. Went to put out his 'best blue tie' in their honour, and was reminded of Elizabeth by 'a faint, delightful fragrance'; regrets not having asked her to play for him more often. Glad Robert saw Arthur Coleridge, 'the most pleasant - perhaps the most characteristic' of a large family in which each generation is 'pervaded with a certain intellectual and emotional flavour'. Is anxious about politics: fears the Duke of Devonshire 'may have a great deal to answer for' and the 'end of his career may be very disgraceful to his glorious name'. Is reading the fourth book of [Cicero's] "De Finibus" and wishes to discuss some ideas about ancient philosophy with Robert.