Ellergreen, Kendal. - The news about Molly [her miscarriage] 'is a sad & senseless business... such utter waste'; means she will have to keep quieter in future, which she will hat;. George has been to Wallington and found Molly did 'one or two rather mad things' early one, which Caroline had been 'too discreet' to mention to Janet. Almost a relief, since such things can be avoided in the future. Gives what she thinks is Mrs Hutchins the dressmaker's address; Bessie can mention either Janet or her sister's name. Returning to Robin Ghyll this evening after staying with [Charles and Edith] Cropper for a couple of nights; Mary and Humphry are very happy there at Robin Ghyll; Mary 'has taken to bathing in a little stream close by'. Janet's 'history' is going on quite well, also her 'story of Theo'. Will be lovely to see Bessie at Wallington; looks forward to seeing Julian 'on his feet'.
Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - Is writing on the train going home. She and Sir George received the news of [James] Croppers death from Edith by the same post as Elizabeth's letter about his illness; he 'will be a great loss to a large circle'; sad for him to die away from home, but he showed 'remarkable energy to have been sightseeing [at the Paris Exhibition] to the last'. Hopes Robert will return today and have lots to tell Elizabeth. Sir George was pleased to get his letter; Caroline would like to hear about the Exhibition. Had a pleasant stay at The Park [with her sister Annie Philips] then spent two nights with their 'old friends' Lord and Lady Ripon, who are 'most delightful people & in perfect sympathy with us politically'. Lady Ripon has seen much of Mr [Samuel] Cronright-Schreiner and 'admires him extremely'. Hopes the Queen of the Netherlands' choice of husband is popular. Glad Elizabeth is sleeping better; hopes she does not find the English autumn too trying, but she has Italian sunshine to look forward to. She and Sir George have got 'several books on Sicily to read' and she thinks they will indeed 'accomplish the journey there'.
Pen Rose, Berkhamsted. - Jokingly claims to be 'appalled' by Bob and Bessie's 'productiveness and industry'; Bob's translation of [Aeschylus's] "Oresteia" has just arrived, and now she hears that Bessie is also 'producing a great work'. She herself knows 'the arduousness of a long translation', having spent '6000 years of [her] youth... over Jülicher' [his commentary on the New Testament]. Gathers that Bessie's translation [of " Character and the Unconscious; a critical exposition of the psychology of Freud and of Jung" by J. H. van der Hoop] has 'quite amused her'; will definitely buy it when it is published. Hopes Bessie and Bob can come to spend a long weekend in February with them; from Saturday would be best as she usually has something keeping her late in London on Friday. She and George are planning a long trip to Italy; she has not been since before the war; they will take Mary and leave Humphry as a boarder at his school. Agrees it is good about Mary's Latin exam: she has never been 'particularly good at that formidable language', but 'they have dragged her somehow'. Her book ["The life of Mrs. Humphry Ward"] is going well; hopes to almost finish it by the time they go away and that it can come out in June; it is 'a great grind [emphasised], but rather lovely to do all the same'. Originally enclosing a photograph of Humphry, 'with a gun given him by Sydney Knutsford', and 'little Charles Fletcher' at Ellergreen; expects Bessie has heard about Edith Cropper's illness, a 'tragic change for that happy house'.
Tolson Hall, Kendal; dated 'Tuesday'. - Carrie has reached the time she herself dreads: a son's engagement. Curious that Elizabeth should have stayed in this parish with their cousins: she and Alice Jones were at St. Andrews together. Remembers her as a 'girl with a sweet dignified manner - tall & not apparently foreign' and as a 'charming violin player'. Sends Robert good wishes.
Pinewood, Godalming. - Has been waiting to hear from George or Caroline about their news to write, but since several days have passed writes to say how interested they are about it. Had a letter from Robert, and thought it very kind of him to write; very glad to see how happy he was. Also heard of the engagement from Edith Cropper. Hopes that George and Caroline are pleased, and that they know their future daughter in law and like her and her family.