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Brighton. - Writes with the news that Donald [Tovey]'s mother died on Christmas Day and the funeral is on Tuesday. Wants then to take Donald and his father back to Northlands for a few days, then hopes Donald will still come on to the Trevelyans instead of going back to Worplesdon. Sends best Christmas wishes to the Trevelyans. Does hope Donald's brother and 'his very capable little wife' will look after Mr Tovey at the Rectory so that Donald can come to the Trevelyans; perhaps Bessie could 'urge it a little'. Fears he will not come to Scotland with her now.

The Old Post House, Worplesdon, Near Guildford, Surrey. - Hopes [Bob's military] Tribunal went well. His wife is now back again in the Acland Nursing Home. The 'strange outbreak on the top of Leith Hill' about three weeks ago was, as he thought, not quite normal, and there were 'very disquieting signs' when they went to Emsworth; however, there were explanations for everything and plenty of normal and interesting conversation with his sister-in-law [Constance] about the boys and the school to disguise her illness, and the doctor was not called until Saturday. The 'first-rate' local man is hopeful, and thinks that Grettie's own ideas about what is wrong with her are 'very sound and should be carried out'; her ideas about what is good for him are 'mere pathological symptoms' and her outlook will probably change when she recovers. Her condition over the last month, including the church-going, has been a 'mask' over 'a tangle of quite different troubles and doubts'. Does not know what the solution will be, and must be prepared for disappointment, but thinks their 'psychology was correct when [they] made Ariadne distinctly disapprove of Dionysus at first'. The plan is for Grettie to spend at least a fortnight in the Acland, putting things including teeth-trouble right, then to come to stay with Tovey's sister-in-law, whom she likes, living 'a garden life' and interesting herself in family doings, while Tovey keeps away till wanted.