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Flora's postcard came when he was away for two months in the north, but he still should have replied sooner. Does indeed remember the 'expedition from Burrows Lea with the Russells to Leith Hill Tower'; he must have been about six, and chiefly remembers eating 'as many bilberries as [he] could' and being 'shamefully sick'. Would like to visit her soon, but they have guests at the moment; would much like to see Flora's French [lead] soldiers. She may have heard that Julian and Ursula have had a son, Philip, and all seems to be going well; Erasmus, his middle name, is a Darwin family name.

Thanks Flora for sending her verses, which are 'not doggerel; they are much too delicate and graceful for that, and have too much feeling'. Must be a 'very real recompense, to be able to call up the "pattern and the vision"... and still enjoy seeing it' though she no long tries to 'draw it'. Sorry he missed seeing her at the 'Maxes' [sic: Maxses?], who seem to have made themselves 'comfortably at home in Tillies cottage'; it is 'very pleasant having them as neighbours'.

Thanks Flora for the kind offer of a 'goat cream cheese'; he will 'delight in it', and it will bring back memories of Greece and Italy; is not sure about Bessie, who feels 'a little unworthy of it', but will give it a try. Hopes to go to Italy at the end of March to see [Bernard] Berenson, and a friend at Corton [Umberto Morra]; also hopes to see Lina [Waterfield], who is 'bad about writing' but is no doubt busy with 'her fondo and other things'. Cannot discover where Pan was born; Tmolus is 'as likely as anywhere' and is often associated with him, as in Shelley's "Hymn to Pan". Glad his translations pleased her; has not been able to write any of his own poetry for a 'long time now'. Hopes to visit her before going to Italy.

Thanks Flora for sending back the Santayanas, and is glad she enjoyed them; remarks on the 'curious lapse of memory about Lady Stanley's knee-breeched footmen!'. Thinks she might like Santayana's "Last Puritan", which is 'not perhaps a good novel', but 'much better written than most novels, and full of good things'; the 'very recognisable portrait of Frank Russell is amusing'. The hero is 'more or less [Santayana] himself, but less interesting'. Offers to lend Flora his copy. Used to own some 'quite good sonnets' which Santayana gave him, but seems to have lost them; Santayana is 'not really a poet, though he sometimes writes good poetry'. Now finds "Lucifer [: a theological tragedy]", which Santayana also gave him, 'rather dull'. Thinks Flora may enjoy some of the 'less philosophical' works like "Soliloquies in England', and could lend them.

Has already sent Flora Santayana's "Last of the Puritans" [sic; "The Last Puritan]; she need not rush to return it, and he will be interested to hear what she thinks; wonders if she will also read the life of Tennyson, which he and Bessie have read 'with great interest'. as well as a life of Sara Bernhardt by her grand-daughter [Lysiane Bernhardt], which they found 'great fun'. Used to 'delight in' Henry Sidgwick's life; Sidgwick was 'very kind' to him when he was an undergraduate. Must get Joan Allen to drive him over to see Flora soon. Will send a translation of a Homeric hymn as a Christmas card to her in a few days. Bessie is well, and sends her love. Saw Bertie [Russell] last week; he was 'very cheerful and full of talk, but looking rather older'.

East Hills, Albury, Guildford. - Apologising for not thanking Bob earlier for his poems ["From the Shiffolds"]; particularly the first one, as she has 'lost [her] heart to Philip Erasmus'; supposes he is still at the Shiffolds.. Is also reading Bob's translation of the "Georgics". Hopes [Arthur Waley's?] "Monkey" reached him safely. It reminded her of 'our nursery religions & magic rites when Noah & the good & bad Kangaroo rule our games'; when Claud was bored he 'used to lift a corner of a rug' and say that Noah was telling him they should play something else. Would like to hear Bob's opinion on [Algernon Cecil's] "A House in Bryanston Square" if he reads it, but would not recommend it.

41 Queen's Road, Richmond, Surrey. - Wishes they could come to the Shiffolds, but 'as usual' they are too busy for the next few weeks; they are selling the house and preparing to move to North Wales, and also to put the children into a new school nearer there. They do hope to come and visit before they leave, hiring a car and also calling on Flora Russell at Albury. Have received a card for Mary [Fedden's] show at the Redfern Gallery and hope to get to it: have not seen her or Julian since the boatrace, and have never seen many of their paintings. Have not seen the Woods [Alan and Mary] since returning from Wales; is afraid they have had a difficult time but hope things are going better for them now. Encloses a blurb of a book of Bertie's ["Portraits from Memory and Other Essays"?] which she thinks may interest Elizabeth.

Thanks Miss Russell for letting them [Robert and Bessie] see Aubrey [Waterfield]'s postcard. A 'great relief' that the Waterfields are safe, though it looks as if it will be some time before they can come to Britain. Is writing to them at Oporto. Does not think Aubrey had ever been to Spain before; his 'four mornings at the Prado must have been a great event for him'.

Since Miss Russell was kind enough to send him Aubrey [Waterfield]'s postcard recently, sends her one he has received himself from Lina; the Waterfields hope they will soon be able to get a boat to bring them to Britain so it is probably not much use writing to them; certainly they do not seem to have received the postcard Robert wrote. Hopes that the Waterfields' 'troubles are over' and that they will soon see them. Hopes she has been having a 'quieter time lately', as he and Bessie have.

Very kind of Flora to give him Sir Frederick Pollock's Greek verses; they are a translation of a 'very fine poem' by Sir Alfred Lyall about a Hindu ascetic watching an army passing by [the first part of "Studies at Delhi"]. Pollock was an excellent Greek scholar and his translation 'seems rather a tour de force'; will send Flora the English poem if he can find it. Is 'fairly well again now', and went to London yesterday, but still gets tired if he walks too much. Hopes he will be able to cycle over some day to see Flora, and perhaps her lead soldiers; has some here, which he will show her if she can visit them.