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The Park, Prestwich, Manchester. - Sorry to miss seeing Julian and Ursula; hopes they will have a good time at [?] Grunnock. He and Bessie had a good time at Wallington. Has not yet 'carried off the Botticelli Dante drawings' [see 12/28], though spoke to Charles; he was 'quite nice about it' though Bob thinks he rather likes the book being there. Has taken measurements to see if it will fit on the shelves at the Shiffolds, which he doubts; doesn't want to put it out on a table, and wonders whether Julian would like to have it in London. It had better stay at Wallington for the moment. Bessie comes home tomorrow, but will probably go to Wallington again in September. Wonders whether Julian has seen [Maria] Germanova again, and if he has found out if she is having difficulties with her rent. [Hasan Shahid] Suhrawardy has written him a 'disconsolate letter'; seemed to think it was unlikely he could come to Europe this year. Hopes to see Julian when he comes South. He and Bessie are probably visiting the [Donald] Toveys at Hedenham around the 25th. Thinks Bessie is 'very well'; she takes her breakfast in bed at half eight; Julian will have to have the '8 o clock breakfast at Wallington' if he goes there.

c/o B[ernard] Berenson Esq., I Tatti, Settignano, Florence. - Thanks his father for his letter, with his mother's, which reached him quickly; thinks 'the posts are working better'. Hears 'quite regularly from Bessie and Julian' who seem to be greatly enjoying themselves in the Netherlands; Julian seems to have 'made great friends with his young cousins', who are a little older.

Has had 'very bad weather' since he came, except for a few days, but 'Italy is delightful in all weathers' if, as now, it is not too cold. Heard a cuckoo this morning for the 'first time [this spring]', and expects he would have heard nightingales by now were it not for the rain. Is glad his father finds 'the Tchekof stories interesting [see 12/317]'; has six other volumes he could lend him when he returns home. Chekhov is 'certainly not at his best in those short sordid stories, though he tells them skilfully enough'; he needed to 'write to make money for his family, and so did quite a good many pot-boilers'. Likes him best when he 'gets hold of a character that really interests him, and gives himself room to develop it a little'. Has a volume of Chekhov, 'all stories about peasants and country priests, which are perhaps more moving than any others of his' he knows, which he could lend to his father; also suggests that if his father wants 'another good Russian book' he should 'get Aksakof's memoirs, in three volumes, perfectly translated by Duff the classical Trinity don'. The London Library has them, but they are 'often out'.

The Berensons send their 'kindest remembrances'; Robert sends his love to his mother, to whom he will write soon. The Uffizi 'has all been rearranged, and the best pictures, such as the Primavera of Botticelli, have been brought from the Ac[c]ademia'; this is 'on the whole... an improvement'.

I Tatti, Settignano, Florence. - Thanks his mother for her letter; is 'now quite recovered, and none the worse for having mumped a few days'; the swellings were not large or painful, and he did not have a temperature until he 'caught a chill by getting up a day too early and had a high fever for a night or two'. That is now long gone, and he is quite well. The weather has also been 'horrid' and there has even been some snow, but today looks more promising. The Berensons are leaving Egypt and will arrive in about 10 days; Robert will stay his last week with them, and will remember his parents to them.

Now he has recovered from mumps, he gets on quite well with his work. Sends thanks to his father for his letter [12/340]; will write to him soon. Has hardly been into Florence at all; visited the Uffizi for half an hour one day. They 'have rearranged the pictures, on the whole for the better. Also, many have been brought across there from the Ac[c]ademia, so that all the Bott[]icellis for instance are together now. If primitives had been in fashion a hundred years ago, how congenial Shell[e]y ought to have found Bot[t]icelli. But he seems only to have been interested in second-rate sculpture, and the Leonardo picture of the Medusa's head'. Does not suppose 'anyone of taste looked at the Bot[t]icellis, except probably Reynolds'. Bessie seems to have had an interesting time in London; is writing to her today at Amsterdam. Julian seems well.