Menaggio. - Glad that Elizabeth is better, and had 'a satisfactory interview with Mrs Scharlieb'; they were also interested in the Dorking meeting; parts of 'Mr G. M.'s letters' appeared in the newspapers; glad that Robert took a share in proceedings. It is lovely here, and they have spent a 'lazy day' sitting with Aunt Margaret in the garden and going with her and Lionel on the Lake [Como]; Margaret is much better. They are thinking of going to Baveno for a few days on Monday. Spent a day at St Moritz on the way, which she did not like much; it also rained heavily when going up there and down the Maloja [Pass], but they have otherwise had good weather. Mrs Humphry Ward has had to leave in answer to a telegraph about her brother [William Arnold], whom she thinks Elizabeth has met though she herself has never done so; fears there has been 'some fatal turn to his illness'. Sir George is well, and Booa thinks Italy is 'wonderful'; she agrees it is very beautiful, and 'even the great number of houses & villas on the banks cannot spoil it. Hopes that the building [of Robert and Elizabeth's new house] can now begin. Sends birthday wishes, though apologises for forgetting the exact date. Hopes the opera was good, and that 'the invalid at Cumberland Place' was better; Mary 'seemed so kind about her'.
Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Sends a report of the Whitefriars dinner, as it contains 'some personal circumstances' which might interest Robert. Hopes Elizabeth is sharing the 'glorious weather' at Welcombe. Is 'easing off work'; has finished Lucretius and begun Bergk's "Poetae [lyrici] Graecae": 'the perfection of poetry, in a society exactly suited to it'. Has Robert's old letter about it; questions Verrall's dating of Tyrtaeus to the sixth century [BC]. Lionel [Holland] is one of the party coming next week.
Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Writes to chastise Robert for writing to his parents so infrequently; knows affection is 'not wanting', but 'year after year, [his] silence is a strain upon [their] feelings'. George and Charles communicate frequently, and Elizabeth's letters 'are a great delight'. Hopes he will mend his ways. He and Caroline are going to London on Monday. Lionel [Holland] has been with them; it has been good to 'see him so full of Liberalism'.
Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Pleasant to get Elizabeth's letter 'with an atmosphere of Italy about it'; was very sorry to leave Rome; the journey home was not pleasant but they 'arrived without misadventure'. Spent a day in London; Janet and George came to lunch; she seems well but George is tired, having been working hard to finish his Meredith book ["The Poetry and Philosophy of George Meredith"]. He is going now to 'electioneer' for Charlie and F[rancis Dyke] Acland; was in a 'very pessimistic modd', but she thinks things are 'very promising'. Is not sure about the local constituency; the candidate [Malcolm Kincaid-Smith] is 'not very good, & it can hardly be won', but 'even Birmingham is fluttered' and Lionel [Holland] is said to have hopes. Aunt Margaret has gone to stay at the 'Plough & Harrow Hotel' in Edgbaston to be near him; they are much amused and only hope she does not over-tire herself. Sir George is 'fairly well'; expects he will be all right when he gets to work. Cooper [Elizabeth Cooper, cook?] has come to Welcombe with them; she can get about but is not to work this month. They will be very quiet this month; she is not going to Charlie's election; is sure Mary will be a 'capital help'. Mrs Whitby has 'taken them all in - Pauline and nurse [Lister?] included!'. Glad Elizabeth had 'an amusing dance & fête'; asks how long they will stay, and if Robert's work is going well. Asks her to remind Robert to write to Sir George. Asks what Mr [Aubrey] Waterfield is painting. The Burlington House collection is 'not large, but well worthy seeing'; there is a 'most delightful Franz Hals' and much else. They have brought many new books to Welcombe: 'Holman Hunt, [Herbert Paul's life of] Froude, Churchill [Winston's Churchill's life of his father Randolph, etc etc' but spend much time reading newspapers. Has 'an election map to mark' and the accounts to do. G[eorge], J[anet] and Mary are coming to stay after the election. Booa is glad to have the Trevelyans back. The 'heating answers very well'.
Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - Glad to hear the news of the 'Pinewood relations [the Knutsfords]; sure they are happy to have made it up with L[ionel?], though she does not understand quite 'how things stand about him'. Expects Dolmetsch is 'very interesting to talk to about music'; he has a 'touch of genius'; asks if his 'money difficulties' are settled. Sent some game on Thursday as it was the last grouse shooting on Wednesday and Sir George thought they should go; they should be eaten quite soon. Expecting the H[enry] Y[ates] Thompsons and R[obin] Mayor today; Charles leaves on Monday and G[eorge] on Tuesday. Glad Elizabeth has recovered; 'curious how hurtful fruit seems'. George read an extract from his history yesterday, which they 'all thought very good'. Hopes Robert is refreshed by his 'outing this week'.
Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - Looks forward to visiting on the 11th. Is going to the Park [Prestwich: to see her sister Annie?] on the 12th and does not like to leave Sir George for long so may only come to town on the 10th; if she comes the day before she will spend the night of the 10th in Surrey as well. Sir George cannot leave until the 13th because of the voting for Hexham. Would be sorry to miss Robert. Very sorry to hear about [Alphonse] Grandmont, though reassures her that 'surgery is so wonderful now' and there is less to fear. Her aunt's 'weakness' will also add to the 'family anxiety'. Glad that the doctor was able to treat Elizabeth herself; hopes she liked him. They were 'astonished beyond measure at Lionel [Holland]'s reappearance', not that he is standing as a Liberal as they 'knew he was not a real Conservative', but that he has returned, and wonders 'how he gets the money to stand'. Asks if Elizabeth and Robert have heard anything about it; supposes they [the Knutsfords] knew nothing of Lionel's plans when they were at Pinewood. Very sad about Meta [Smith]'s child. They have 'cheerful news from Charles, & [the Liberals] are hopeful of winning seats in the north', though 'the reaction [against the Second Boer War?] is not yet in full swing'. Suggests in a postscript on a separate sheet that Elizabeth could travel back with her to London in the evening, stay the night at Gr[osvenor] Cr[escen]t and dine at her club; George will also be in town.
Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - She and Sir George have now made their plans; she thinks she will come to London on 9 October after all; asks if she should visit on the 11th. Asks if they heard anything about Lionel [Holland] when at Pinewood.
[On headed notepaper for Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland]: - Is sorry she 'had so rough a passage'. Got his 'grub all right'. Glad to hear that '[Frank] Holl's picture of Papa is such a success' and would very much like to see it. Charlie 'seems all right now' [after his illness]; Robert 'went a walk with him instead of footer' last Thursday, towards Pinner. [Henry Morton?] Stanley gave a lecture last Wednesday evening; he was 'very interesting' and Robert thinks it was a 'great success'. 'Bozy [Bosworth Smith?] brought in a king and queen from somewhere about Sierra Leone, which caused great amusement'. He 'went into chapel the next morning... in a cap rather like a Bozyite fez'.
Went down [to London] with Charlie to see the Old Harrovians' match against the Old Westminster boys; both played well but Harrow lost [in the first round of the F.A. Cup?]. Lionel Holland came down amongst 'the old boys from Vanity's house'; Robert didn't see him for long. Mr [J. W.?] Cunningham has had Robert and Charlie to tea this evening; they sometimes see the Stevens, whom Miss Martin used to teach, there. He and Charlie are both 'getting on very well'.