Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - Very interesting to hear about Mr Tovey [see 8/147, letter from Duncan Crookes Tovey to Robert]; suspects that Macaulay was quoting Pope directly. Glad to have Robert's account of the [Apostles'] dinner, and that he spoke; thoughts on preparing for speeches and speaking ex tempore. His finger is improving. Gave Robert's message to Aunt Annie [Philips], who is well and looking forward to her tour of Italy and Sicily. Glad Bessie likes his "Greek War" ["An Ancient Greek War", a piece in his "Interludes in Verse and Prose"]; at least the 'extreme elaboration' of the piece differentiates it from the rest of the considerable literature on those times. Pleased to hear of a measure condemning Boriell's [?] Bill at a large meeting at Smithfield being defeated 'by an enormous majority' after an 'excellent speech by Mr Harper'
Seatoller. - Thanks his mother for her letters, and for the Times [Literary] Supplement. The article on Petrarch was interesting; he is a 'gentleman' Robert knows little about, and though the article was good it does not make him 'particularly anxious to be further acquainted with him, at least with his poetry'. The weather has generally been good, and he has got on 'fairly' with his work. Was 'very sorry about Searle [his death] though... expected it'.
Sent on his mother's letter to [Roger] Fry: 'unfortunate that it is a pastille', as they are 'rather difficult to deal with' and he doubts 'travelling improves them; if Fry thought he could do anything Robert could possibly take it with him when he goes South [see also 13/21]. Supposes George does not want him to read more proofs [of England under the Stuarts]; of course if he does, Robert would have time and willingness to go through more at Wallington. Hears Aunt Annie will be there, which will be nice.
Has little to say, as 'nothing happens here'; Bessie will arrive on Friday, and seems well. Hopes both his mother and father are well.
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Happy they will see Elizabeth soon; Rounton [Grange, the home of the Bells] will be a good place to break the journey. Annie [Philips] will enjoy Elizabeth's visit. A pleasure to look at Julian's photograph and think that he is now so well; glad Nurse Catt is recovered. Enticknap is to bring Gussie up on 28 July, and will stay in the house while Gussie goes into lodgings; Keith will arrange it when he returns from a week away. The 'young men at the Portico' buy their own food and pay Mrs Davidson to cook and housekeep for them. The 'W.S. [Women's Suffrage] debate was very interesting, but not very satisfactory... it seems rather an "impasse". Postscript saying it is very kind of Elizabeth to offer to play at the part; asks if they can talk it over when she comes.
[On headed notepaper for the Harrow Philathletic Club; 'Trinity' added in pencil]: - People are now beginning to go down: Cambridge is 'becoming much quieter', and he is 'rather glad to be able to stay up until next Friday'. Will come home then, and go to Tunbridge Wells on the following day [to see his aunt Anna Maria Philips, and Sophie Wicksteed]. Asks when they are likely to go abroad: he supposes 'as soon as Georgie comes home'. There are no more lectures, but he will go to Lendrum [a coach] once more; thinks he will continue to see him next term, as he 'learn[s] a great deal from him'.
Several people are coming up from Harrow tomorrow 'to pass [their] matriculation', including Tommy [Macaulay] Booth and [J.W.?] Sandilands. Robert is going to pay all his bills this term, including his kitchen bill; will then be able to 'see more or less what the term has cost'. Thinks Charlie is well, though has 'not seen him much for a day or two'. He himself has had a cold, but it is 'almost gone now'.
Hopes 'all is going well in politics', but they [the Liberals] 'can afford to have a few reverses after London'. The Magpie and Stump debating society dinner 'was a great success after the election [of the new President]': Verrall and Ja[c]kson were there, and it 'was not too rowdy'. Lord Herschell's meeting was also a success, though Robert was 'a little disappointed in his speech'. Hopes his parents are well.
The Mill House, Westcott, Dorking. - Robert is glad Aunt Maria is 'on the whole better' and hopes she will continue to improve; Bessie much enjoyed getting her letter. Expects Tuttie [Hubrecht] will be with her soon., but it is 'very sad about the Grandmonts', and they hope all will soon turn out well. They have just had their first guest: Robert's Aunt Annie [Philips] who 'gave Bessie the broach [sic]', his mother's sister. She came for lunch and tea; Bessie was 'very busy' in the morning making things nice as Aunt Annie is a 'very skilful connoisseur in housekeeping'. Now Bessie is sewing rings onto the curtains for the dining room; Robert breaks off to go and look at them, and reports they look 'even better than expected...' though the seamstress has made them two inches too short. Wishes Aunt Maria could see their house; will soon send photographs of the exterior and two sitting rooms, but this will not give her a real idea; she will however see the Enticknaps and their son Gussie. Is about to put some weedkiller on the lawn, though this is an unending task. Their French roses are 'still blooming' and have been very successful. There are now frosts at night, though the weather is still 'beautiful'. Has recently been reading, with the help of translations, the old Provençal poets; some are much more beautiful than he expected, and he understands now why Dante so admired and was influenced by them; however many of the Troubadours are 'very dull and conventional'. He and Bessie read some of Dante's "Paradiso" together most mornings; they like it very much and persevere even though it is 'very difficult'. They both send best wishes to her and Uncle [Paul Hubrecht], whom he hopes is keeping well.
Bessie adds a postscript in Dutch at the bottom of the last page which she continues above Robert's writing on the first page; asks about Tuttie, describes getting the house ready for Aunt Annie. Asks about a name, 'Lucy Bane?', which she could not read. She forgot Johannes [Röntgen?]'s birthday; Aunt Maria 'thinks much more intensely about other people, just like Grandmother did'.
Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Glad Elizabeth's nurse is better; fears it will be a while until Julian is quite well, and she must follow the doctor's advice; hopes he recommends a move before the hot weather. The seaside would be good if not for 'change of food'; wishes it were not such a long journey north to them, but babies do feel it less than older children. Have had cheerful letters from Charles and Mary on their way to the [Man] Hunt. She and Sir George are quiet next week, though she needs to go to London to see '"my friend Mr Carter"'. Annie [Philips] is coming on the 24th for a week. The Roosevelt party of four are coming from 4 - 6 June; also present will be Charles, Mary, Lord Morley, and George so it will be a full house. Wishes it were over, as it 'will be like a whirlwind' sweeping over them and entails her getting a new black dress. Is not very strong yet. Sends love to Robert and hopes he is getting on well.
8, Grosvenor Crescent, S.W. - Glad to get Elizabeth's letter; thinks Julian will prosper even more with warmth and sunshine. She is recovering, though too slowly; hopes to go down to tea as Annie [Price?] is coming to see her. Mary and Pauline entertained her yesterday; wants to have them painted, probably in miniature. Sir George is reading "Mr Polly" [H. G. Wells: "The History of Mr Polly"] aloud to her, which is very amusing; is reading [Samuel Butler's] "Erewhon" himself, which she will return when he finishes it. Would very much like to see Elizabeth if she comes up again; glad she has 'put things right with nurse'. Nice 'to have a little W.L.A. [Women's Liberal Association]'; likes that the work 'brings one into contact with people you cannot reach in any other way'; was never able to do 'charity visiting' and there are 'such nice women in the WLA'. Asks if Elizabeth would like to represent the Upper Wansbeck W.L.A. at the Council meeting on 10 and 11 May; could put her up. Has sent five pounds to the People's Suffrage Society [Federation?] since she 'approve[s] their principles, though... cannot be bound to one plan'. Asks in a postscript whether Elizabeth has a photograph of Julian.
Rome. - Apologises for not having written for a while; she can only manage a letter a day and knew Sir George was keeping them informed of her slow recovery. She is now free of fever and beginning to feel better; she 'never felt so bad' in her life and found it hard to maintain a 'show of cheerfulness'. Annie's offers of help have been very touching. Thinks they will stay in Rome until she is totally recovered, then return home; the alternative is to stop at the Riviera for a while, but in either case Sir George will stay and bring her home. He will probably do some work soon, and is cheerful now he is no longer anxious about her. They will stay another three or four weeks. Could not enjoy C[harles] and M[ary]'s visit, but they had a good time sight-seeing. Hopes Julian's nurse is still satisfactory; thinks it is good she 'gets him out early & makes him walk'. Glad that Mr [Gordon] Bottomley is a little better this winter; hopes their new home in the north suits him. Not many English in Rome, but many Americans; Sir George likes the American Ambassador, [Thomas Nelson] Page, and sometimes 'goes about with him'; they have gone this morning in Page's car to the Ponte Nomentano and the Campagna. He also finds Sir Rennell Rodd [the British Ambassador] 'pleasant', but has met no English friends here. Sends love to Julian, and asks them to tell him she likes watching the Italian children playing on a terrace across the road; they 'talk & shout a great deal, & everything they say ends in "a a a ah"'.
Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - Glad Robert and Elizabeth are going north; there has been a change in the weather today and 'perhaps the great heat is over' though there is no sign of rain yet; yesterday was the hottest day she remembers here, and though they walked before breakfast in the shade of the east wood, the sun was 'too fierce' to go into the garden. Would prefer Robert and Elizabeth's visit not to be earlier than the 29th or 30th July, as originally planned; has arranged some activities for the end of their stay, when Annie [Philips] will also be there, and there would be 'domestic' problems if they came on the 25th. Will write to Mr [Roger] Fry and invite him for the first week in August; would be interested to see the drawings he has made [to illustrate Robert's "Polyphemus and Other Poems"] if he could bring them. Hopes Robert will protect himself against any 'serious loss' in publication of the book. Hopes Elizabeth will not be tired out by London and the journey. The 'new corner seat' is very comfortable but 'needs much "turning down"'.
Trin[ity College], Cam[bridge - on college notepaper]: - The London elections have 'gone off very well' for them [the Liberals], which is encouraging for the general election. They have 'had an Oxford Liberal here', who was telling them about 'the work done by the undergraduates in the villages near Oxford' and wants them to 'Liberalize Cambridgeshire too'; Robert however has 'too much else to think of for the present'.
There was a 'great election in the Trin[ity] debating society': the 'wrong side won', but it 'was great fun, though the Athenæum people bullied their op[p]onents rather too much'. Is going to hear Joachim [the violinist] that evening. Charlie is well as far as Robert can tell. Is going to see Sophie [Wicksteed] and Aunt Annie at the end of next week if he can, as soon as he goes down. They have had one Harrow [football] game and will have another as soon as they can. Not much news to tell her.
Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Anxious to know how Emma [Elizabeth's niece] got home; fears she was caught by the storm on her crossing. Quite a lot of snow here, which is not thawing though there is not much frost. Hopes that Julian is all right and will be soon out of quarantine; has not had much news from him. Annie [Philips] is 'very energetic' and walks into Stratford every day. Thanks Elizabeth for sending a book through her, which Caroline is now reading. Asks if she has heard about Mary and young George's 'adventurous walk on the Yorkshire moors'; they thought they might have to sleep out but found a cottage to stay in the end. Is up again and taking walks in the mornings; dull for Annie, but they cannot even ask anyone to tea 'in this weather'. Will be very glad to see Elizabeth when it is convenient; asks when Robert goes abroad and whether he will get to Greece; he must come to see her before he goes. Sir George is mostly well, but staying indoors. Hopes Elizabeth's 'new couple [of live-in servants: the Faggetters] continue..' [letter missing its end]
8 Grosvenor Crescent, S.W. - The wedding [between George and Janet Trevelyan] is over, and now the family is 'all married'; wishes Robert and Elizabeth had been there as it was a nice, well arranged occasion. She, Sir George, and Booa [Mary Prestwich] arrived by train in Oxford just in time for the Registry, which was 'in a shabby little first floor room', made nice with 'carpet & flowers' but much inferior to the Hague; description of the short ceremony there, with only the 'nearest relations' and some of George's friends. They then went to [Manchester] College to meet the friends who had just arrived by special train from London. The chapel is 'extremely pretty, with lovely Burne-Jones windows'. Order of service originally enclosed; describes the address, in which 'there was nothing the least doctrinal, but it was very high toned & 'ethical'". Many guests, including Meggy [Price], Annie [Philips], Harry Greg, 'a number of Wards & Arnolds & Croppers', the 'H.Y.T.s' [Harry Yates Thompson and his wife], 'the Bell connection, & the Stanleys in numbers'. Also Mrs [Alice] Green, Henry James, 'Ritchies, Freshfields, Sidgwicks, Mr [Hugh?] Clifford, the Holman Hunts, Russells, Muggins Runcimans', many Oxford people and 'an array of George's friends'.
They then went into the library, a 'fine room with beautiful woodwork, & painted windows, & a statue of Dr [James] Martineau' for tea, took the special train back and were in London by 6 pm. Sir George was unwell with a bad cold for two days before, but got through; it was a warm day and he does not seem worse this morning. George and Janet went to 'a quiet place in Surrey' for a few days then on to Cornwall; will then return to London to 'put their house in order & go abroad'. Describes Janet's wedding dress and travelling dress.
Received the box of things from Taormina yesterday [see 11/93]; 'very nice, & just suitable for a bazaar'; will write and thank Madame Grandmont [Bramine Hubrecht] for ordering them. Sir George sends love, and thanks for Robert's last letter; he is reading Lord Acton's letters 'with amusement and interest', having had to stop work for a while; she thinks 'working too long at the B.M. [British Museum] made him ill' and is 'sure it is full of germs'. Charles and Mary were 'much to the front' at the wedding, and Mary looked 'magnificent'; dined with them last week in North Street, where everything is arranged nicely. Supposes Robert and Elizabeth will return to lots of business about the new house and hopes it goes well: 'the old judge [Sir Roland Vaughan Williams] has had plenty more time to think it over'. Sir John Swinburne's engagement has been broken off. Hester Lyttelton and Victoria Buxton are both going to be married.
Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Glad Elizabeth had such a nice visit from her sister. Has not been 'bright', and has not been downstairs for a few days. Annie [Philips] is coming on the 12th; hopes she will stay over Christmas. Glad to hear good news of Julian, and hopes he enjoys his holidays when they come; would like to see him. Sends love to Bob. Curious that there has been 'such high wind at Petersfield'; there is little here. Sir George is well, but it is dull for him with her upstairs.
Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Was glad to get Elizabeth's letter at Morningside, where she was 'most horridly poorly'; her recovery has been slow, although she was able to travel on Friday without ill effect. Annoying that she and Annie [Philips] could not spend time together, though they 'talked through the open door' on the last two days. Annie is recovering and still looks 'very much pulled down'; Caroline is afraid it will be dull for her at Morningside as she does not feel well enough to have friends to stay; hopes people will visit from London. Greatly interested in the elections; hopes to hear something today. Very good of Robert to work so hard; sure 'that kind of canvassing must be very useful' and 'encouraging to the poor men'; there is 'reason to be ashamed of a good many things in England'. Sorry Madame Grandmont [Bramine Hubrecht] cannot come as early as she hoped, and that Elizabeth has some 'discomfort at night' [in the late stages of her pregnancy]. Hopes Mrs Catt [the nurse] will like the place, which will be 'a haven of warmth & shelter, after Langdale in the winter'. The result of the elections so far are worse than she hoped, but they [the Tories] only have three seats in London yet; [the Liberals] 'have so little to gain upon, and so much to lose'. Glad Elizabeth has found a good horse. Sends love to Robert; hopes he 'enjoyed the excitement of the [election] returns'.
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Happy to have a good account of Julian will be glad to see him. 14 or 15 [August] will suit them for Elizabeth's arrival; hopes Bob will also come for a few days. Will take lodgings for a week from 22 August at Whitley Bay for Elizabeth if she likes; it is nearer Tynemouth than Newbiggin, probably a little larger with more trippers, but a nice place and more convenient for getting to Newcastle to catch the express. Originally enclosing a letter from Mrs Aynsley [?], the widow of a farmer, who has gone there for a fortnight; they can give Elizabeth a hamper of food to take.
Morningside, Park Avenue, Watford. - Came to spend Sunday with Annie [Philips], but became ill with influenza on Saturday and has been confined to since; 'tiresome' as she cannot see Annie, but she is being well nursed. The fever is gone but she will not be able to travel before Thursday. Good to see Bob on Saturday morning and hear good news of Elizabeth. Hope Madame Grandmont [Bramine Hubrecht] will come soon. Charlie 'in great spirits' about his election; fine of H[ugh] Bell to stand [as Liberal candidate for the City of London]. Hope Elizabeth finds a good cob [horse] soon.
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - There was a strong hot wind last night; Mary and the children's journey north by sea from London must have been rough. Supposes Julian will be home [from school] this week or next. Annie [Philips] is here; was happy to rest for a while, but now wants to be more active; is going to Newcastle for the day tomorrow. Letter is continued next day: Annie has gone by the early train; she is lunching with Mrs Wild. Originally enclosing a letter from M. C. [possibly Margaret Cropper?] which 'shows that she appreciated Surrey'; a pity she is 'so grave'. Will soon start to think about Elizabeth's visit. Sir George is 'fairly well', but needs much looking after and is 'easily tired & fussed'; Caroline says ruefully they are both 'getting really old!!!'. A postscript on a second sheet says that Mary and the girls got home last night; the sea trip was enjoyable but they are very tired; Marjorie looks thin and as if she has suffered from the heat.
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Glad to hear Elizabeth has found a couple to come in the Birts' place; hopes they will suit. Very glad to be at Wallington, and the weather is improving; went out yesterday down to the garden in the carriage. Was very tired by the journey, but is recovering. Relieved to hear how happy Julian is at school; he has written to Annie [Philips] saying that everything is 'delightful'. Will be a pleasure to see him. 'Old [George] Handyside died last week'; the village will not seem the same without him. Booa [Mary Prestwich] is going to visit a niece in Lancashire on Tuesday, and seems 'fairly well'. Sends love to Bob; enjoyed his visit.