Showing 8 results

Venice. - Is very sorry to hear the news [the death of the Trevelyan's daughter Susan] and hopes Elizabeth Trevelyan is all right; would like to hear. Is having a good time, and hopes to go on to various other Italian towns such as Ferrara, Ravenna and Faenza.

The Shiffolds, Holmbury St. Mary, Dorking; sent to Lady Trevelyan at Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Bessie is 'going on very well still' [after labour and the death of their new-born daughter Susan Caroline in September]; the doctor came today and 'seemed quite satisfied'. Has not yet replied to his father's last letter but will do soon. They are glad to hear Paul is 'so well' despite the heat; has been cooler here recently though still fine.

The Chiswick Press [printers of his new book Sisyphus: An Operatic Fable] seem 'very dilatory', and will not send a 'specimen page': until they do he cannot begin getting proofs. Expects he will not be able to get the book published until December now. Hopes Aunt Meg 'will find Phil's case is not a serious one', and that his parents are well.

Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland [struck through], Morpeth. - Very sorry for Robert and Elizabeth's 'great sorrow and disappointment' [the death of their new-born daughter Susan], the family's 'first misfortune of that sort' and very sad; realised the threat when Robert told them the doctor was 'very anxious'. Only consolation that it has shown the family 'how much [they] all care for each other, and how closely [they] are bound together'. Thinks George coming to them, and Caroline doing so on Monday, are quite right. Paul is here and 'infinitely sweet, and so well and happy'.

2, Cheyne Gardens, S.W. - Did not telegraph yesterday, as they were 'too uncertain about the life of the little boy [Humphry]'; now both he and Janet are all right; it was a 'very anxious time', and he thought a lot about Bessie, 'expecting... a similar misfortune' [a reference to the early death of her and Bob's daughter Susan?]. Janet was 'very sensible and calm'. Hopes to have good news of Paul.

Wych Cross Place, Forest Row, Sussex. - Did not have the courage to write before [after the death of the Trevelyans' daughter Susan in September 1908?] and asks the Trevelyans to forgive him; is very touched that Bob is continuing his work on Ariadne ["The Bride of Dionysus"] and likes both duets very much. Trevelyan is right about 'Oh touch of death' and Tovey will put it on the opening of the door [of the Labyrinth].

12 Pembroke Gardens, Kensington. - Sorry not to have told Trevelyan before that [Desmond] MacCarthy liked his translation [of a short story by [Eduard] von Keyserling, see 6/54] and is going to put it in in the November issue [of the "New Quarterly"]; Sickert has 'rather reluctantly' agreed to write a paper to accompany it. Has been in Neuville, near Dieppe, for the last six weeks. Is very sorry to hear of the Trevelyans' bereavement [the death of their new-born daughter Susan].

12 Pembroke Gardens, Kensington, W. - Letter of condolence on the death of the Trevelyan's new-born daughter, Susan Caroline; sends love to Elizabeth Trevelyan and says she hopes she will take care of herself, for Trevelyan and Paul. Finds that young mothers often do not look after their eyes properly: Agnes Makower hurt hers when Ursula was born. Oswald [her son] and Bessie have taken a furnished house in Wellington, New Zealand and will not be back before June; now Oswald has an office Bessie was finding hotel life lonely; hopes they have solved 'the servant difficulty'.

Lamb House, Rye, Sussex. - Recently shared in 'poor dear Jonathan [Sturges]'s good wishes' to Trevelyan but now he assures him and his wife of his 'still tenderer interest and sympathy' [after the death of their new-born daughter Susan]. Spent that day with their 'poor undaunted little friend [Sturges]' in surroundings which were a 'blest... escape from that dreary prison house of Wimpole Street [a nursing home]'. Sturges's 'inseparable (&... most valuable) nurse is with him', and he has 'charming rooms' with a big balcony overlooking the sea at Eastbourne; seems 'really to be getting on...' despite the lack of society. Will go again soon, but cannot do so often as the journey takes so long; whenever he does see Sturges, the sense is always the same of 'the hard little consistency of his personality - unique little pathetic wasted demon that he is!'. Thinks with great pleasure of their few days at Welcombe at Whitsuntide, and their talks with John [Cann?] Bailey; must meet again. Wonders if the Trevelyans are discussing the 'Luard tragedy'; they do 'nothing else' in Rye; it is a 'rounded "Greek" perfection of horror or darkness'. Acknowledges that the Trevelyans have enough cares of their own.