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TRER/13/9 · Item · 5 Sept 1898
Part of Papers of Robert Calverley Trevelyan and Elizabeth Trevelyan

12 Pembroke Gardens, Kensington, W. - Saw Helen yesterday and today; took her Bob's book ["Mallow and Asphodel"], in which 'I forged yr. initials & her name in yr. handwriting', thinking this would make it 'more valuable to her'. Upset at first to find how ill she was, and 'how hopeless it seemed to arrive at her real self at all', but spent several hours with her; Edith Coombe [Helen's sister] was there throughout. Towards the end Helen woke up, asked questions about her friends and the harpsichord [which she is decorating for Dolmetsch] and seemed much pleased by the book, responding to Fry's prompts about Bob's reading to them at Taormina; also discussed a picture by Fry hanging in her room. This was all an improvement and 'quite astonished Dr Chambers'; she was quieter today but seemed easier with him; hopes he will be able to do her some good and will visit every day unless it excites her too much; very hard to 'keep up a one sided conversation for 3 hrs' and feels quite drained at the end. Asks Bob to help by writing to Helen, talking of 'simple things & yr. fondness for her - everything which gives her an idea of her own importance & helpfulness to others is good', and by giving Fry 'interesting & amusing things about people & books' to talk about with her. Is finding his writing very hard, since Helen 'seems all important' and he cannot bring himself to care 'a tuppenny damn' about 'the date of Bissolo's death', but it is a good distraction. Knows Bob will help.

Roundhurst, Haslemere. - Has seen Dr Chambers: he thinks that Helen is much the same, though Helen's sister Mildred considers that she is much brighter. Is not going to see her yet; waiting is 'slow and weary work'. He and Goldie Dickinson are enjoying Roundhurst very much: Mrs Entiknapp [Enticknap] is very good to them and Augustus approves of them. Is going on with his illustrations though Macmillan's plan for an illustrated M. Arnold is not good for his prospects. Hopes Trevelyan will have a good time with B. [Berenson?]: must not let him criticise too much. Will probably go to London for good soon as he has a lot of lecture work to do, though he is far less unhappy in the country.