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The Shiffolds, Holmbury St Mary, Dorking. - Thanks his father for his 'very kind letter' [16/172], which came yesterday afternoon. A 'great pleasure' to him and Bessie that his parents share their happiness [on the birth of their son Paul] 'so fully'. Bessie is still doing well and the doctor is 'very satisfied' with her and the baby. Sends thanks to his mother for a 'very nice letter' received this morning; will write to her every day for now; her visit was 'a great pleasure' to them both, and 'of the greatest help to Bessie' during the unexpectedly long wait to give birth, is 'very grateful to her for all her kindness'. Encloses a letter from Keith [gardener at Wallington]; it is very kind of him to send flowers for Bessie, which she mostly has in her room during the day.

Did not want the Education Bill to be lost: the loss 'will not weaken the Government, but rather the contrary' due to the 'general indignation', not only amongst Liberals, but it would not have been worth 'sacrificing the bill if it could have been saved', even for this 'useful tonic effect'. At least the Government 'seems to have a good hand to play'; hopes they will do so 'in the best way possible, whatever that may be'.

Bessie sends her love to his parents, and so do he and 'Paulus (modern Apostulus)'.

Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Agrees it is better from Julian to stay at Wallington; hopes Elizabeth will stay as long as she can then leave him with them; will be sorry if Bob has to return before Elizabeth; also the Frank Hollands are coming for three night on 27 August and would be sorry not to see him. Elizabeth will see [from an enclosed letter?] that Mrs Cookson and the child cannot come. Has had no more news of Janet; hopes she is recovering steadily. Hopes the weather is 'fine & cool' as it is in the mountains. Mary is 'well & active, but is still rather too stout', and her family all well. Sir George is happy to have no visitors until Elizabeth comes; she gave him an 'enormous puzzle' with eight hundred pieces which she hopes will last some time. The garden is beautiful; Keith won all the prizes he entered. Sir George was very interested in Robert's last letter. Asks if 'Verrall's memoir' can be got at a library, or if it is privately printed; she has not seen it. Thinks Sir George likes it. Postscript on a separate sheet saying that Sir George would like Elizabeth to help him re-arrange the china in the Hall, and that she has got an outdoor swing [?] that Julian will like.

Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Is sending a toy train for Julian's birthday. [Edward] Keith has had a bad accident on his bicycle and has concussion, which she is afraid is serious; will ask Nixon to pay G[ussie] Enticknap and give him his ticket; hopes he will go straight home. Good that this was decided before Keith's accident. Sir George is so alarmed about the strike that they might not go to London on Saturday but wait a while; was going to suggest visiting Elizabeth towards the end of the month but will let her know. Hopes she is doing well; sends regards to Madame Grammont [Bramine Grandmont Hubrecht].

Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Good to see Elizabeth's handwriting again; sorry that her convalescence is so long but it is to be expected. Pleased to hear good things of Nurse Shepherd; very glad that Mrs Grammont [Bramine Grandmont Hubrecht] is there. Very sorry that the 'Enticknap crisis' has come about now, but it was impossible to prevent, and if action had not been taken 'there might have been a public scandal'. Hopes [Edward] Keith will recover but his injuries are serious, including a cracked skull and concussion. Mrs Keith has 'come out well'; writes to Caroline to say Davidson will see Gussie [Enticknap] off on Saturday. Will not go to London before Tuesday next week as Sir George is very alarmed by the strikes and 'pictures London starving & without warmth or light'; she feels more optimistic, but perhaps is 'too sanguine'. If they do not make the move to London for a while, she will definitely go up for a few days, including a visit to Elizabeth; she may bring Booa [Mary Prestwich], who would love to see Julian, and will 'have the motor, as Annie [Philips] had'. Sir George thanks Elizabeth for her message; he has been 'truly unhappy' about her.

Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Has given the poem to Caroline. Glad to hear that Julian is all right. Thinks the garden here is currently 'as splendid as any garden [he has] ever seen'; Keith 'takes an artist's pleasure in it'. Will not be able to send game for a while, as Sir George can only manage two or three hours grouse shooting now and Charles will not be here this week. Asquith has 'done magnificently'. Future dangers are 'national bankruptcy and disorder'. He and Lord Kinross once got through a long coal strike in the West of Scotland without one breach of order, though it drove the Chief Constable to suicide. Disorder should 'never be allowed'.

The Shiffolds. -- Bessie seems to be doing well still; the doctor is not visiting today, so he may not write this afternoon. Aunt Annie is coming to lunch, and perhaps George. Is 'very sorry to hear about [Gussie] Enticknap': has written to Keith [the head gardener at Wallington] asking him to 'write at once, if he has not done so already, to tell the Enticknaps the reason for giving [their son Gussie] notice', and also to write to Robert himself. Of course his parents should hear directly from Keith, and Robert can say nothing to them until then, especially as he does not know what Gussie has done. [Alfred] Enticknap will doubtless try to find his son work somewhere else as soon as he can, though he will have to stay here until then. Hopes very much he will 'turn over a new leaf'. Nurse Godwin and Robert thought it 'best to tell Bessie, since she is getting on so well' and would soon have to hear about it anyway; she 'says she will not worry about it.

The Shiffolds. - Bessie has had 'another quite good night' and is getting on 'quite well'. Mrs Grandmont is coming next Saturday; Molly may come for a night before that. Dr C[ornish] says that 'as far as he can see the kidney trouble is quite at an end', but will 'keep analysing etc to see if he can detect anything wrong'; however, he thinks it was 'solely due to pregnancy' and has not yet revealed any further weakness.

Thanks his mother for sending him Keith's letter; thinks he has 'behaved very wisely', and neither he nor Bessie has any doubt that 'his suspicions [of Gussie Enticknap] are correct'. Is sure he will 'write tactfully to the Enticknaps'; his mother will see that he and Bessie cannot speak to them of the matter until they have heard from Keith. Expects Keith will give 'general unsatisfactoriness and untrustworthiness' as his reasons for dismissal, and they will 'have to accept that'. Bessie tends to think they will be 'sensible' and feel that Keith had ' very good reasons, which he cannot fully share with them'. They will certainly look out for work for him at once; until it is found he will have to stay here, but 'they are the last people to wish him to remain idle. They are unwise in some things, but not in that way'. Perhaps Gussie could 'go into the navy, where he would be under discipline'.

Bessie sends her love; she is 'longing to write', but thinks she should put this off for a few more days. Robert will write next tomorrow afternoon, not in the morning. Adds a postscript sending thanks to his father for his book, which has arrived; will 'write directly'.

The Shiffolds. - Bessie is 'going on very well'; the doctor came today and was pleased, he will not come again until Thursday. [Edward] Keith's letters to Robert and the Enticknaps came this morning; Mrs Enticknap has 'on the whole taken [Keith's dismissal of her son Gussy as a gardener's boy at Wallington] sensibly, and is not making a grievance of it'. She is 'Of course... slow and rather stupid in not seeing how unsatisfactory Gussy is', but that was to be expected as she 'cannot be told the full truth'; however, she does 'to some extent recognise his weaknesses', and is willing to try to find 'the right kind of employment for him'; it might be best for him to go into the Navy, or a trade such as 'carpentering or a blacksmith's'. She is 'perfectly nice about it' towards Robert and Bessie, and seems to accept that Gussy had to be given notice. Robert thinks Keith 'has behaved very considerately and wisely'; will write to him about it.

Will write tomorrow; will finish his father's book tonight, so may write to him instead of his mother.

The Shiffolds. - Bessie is 'going on very well'; Dr C[ornish] came today and 'seemed quite satisfied'. Molly should be here in about an hour. Nurse Godwin is leaving tomorrow, and Nurse Shepherd arriving.

Asks her to thank his father for his letter [12/189] and the enclosure, the 'old Harrovian's letter'. Bessie has met him: he called here a 'year or two ago' when Robert was out, and had his book with him. Bessie says he was 'a rather mild seedy-looking sort of man, probably a little mad, though excitable'; his letters seem to Robert 'quite mad'. Bessie wishes she had looked at the book more carefully, but it 'seemed to be poor stuff'. Robert thinks the 'poor wretch was probably tramping the country', visiting the Old Harrovians whose addresses he could find 'to try and make them buy a copy'; he sent a letter to them afterwards which was similar to the one to Robert's father, and 'seemed quite mad'. Will write soon to his father and return the enclosure. The old Harrovian was 'much older' than Robert, and 'certainly not at the Grove in Bowen's time'.

The Enticknaps have generally taken things [the dismissal of their son Gussie from the gardens at Wallington] 'more sensibly' than Robert expected. They are angry with Keith, which 'cannot be helped, as they cannot be told the real reasons [for Gussie's dismissal] so naturally they thought he should have written earlier to warn them'. They are though 'anxious to do the right thing with Gussie now; Robert and Bessie think they are right in 'wanting to apprentice him as a carpenter, or possibly a smith, and having him to live with them'. The Enticknaps see that this would mean leaving the Shiffolds and are ready to do this; Robert thinks they are 'right on the whole', and they have been 'perfectly nice' about it. It will of course be difficult to replace them, but with luck Robert and Bessie may be able to find a childless married couple. Meanwhile, perhaps a cottage could be found for the Enticknaps nearby, so that Enticknap could come for the day. In some ways Robert and Bessie are sorry to lose the Enticknaps, as they had 'great merits' and 'in important things were thoroughly trustworthy', but they also sometimes gave them 'a good deal of trouble', and in the long term their leaving is probably for the best. Since the change cannot take place at once, Gussie will need to be here for a while, but Robert thinks he will 'be on his best behaviour'. Bessie has talked everything over with Mrs Enticknap and is not at all worried. They have had a 'reference about a married couple', but expect they will have found a place by now'.

The Shiffolds. - Bessie is doing quite well; Nurse Shepherd is here now instead of Nurse Godwin, and Nurse Fry leaves today. Bramine Grandmont has just come; George and Janet are visiting for the day tomorrow. Has already told her that the Enticknaps will probably leave soon, and so they are looking for replacements; they have heard of a promising-sounding couple but fear they will already have a place, still, they are enquiring about them.

He and Bessie had hoped 'the Vaughan William[s]es of Leith Hill Place' would have let the Enticknaps have one of their cottages, so that Enticknap could stay on as their gardener; they could then have employed a cook, and Gussie could have 'got carpentering work in Forest Green, and been under his parents' eye'. However, since the Vaughan Williamses do not want to let the cottage permanently, this seems impossible; there are 'no other cottages near enough'. It is a 'comfort' that the Enticknaps are 'friendly and considerate', though no doubt have a grievance against Keith [head gardener at Wallington]; this cannot be helped, as 'they can't be told the whole truth [about why Gussie was dismissed]. Fears it will be 'very difficult' to find a married couple who fulfil all conditions, but they may be lucky. The Enticknaps would not insist on leaving immediately, so they can 'make a shift for the next month or two'. Robert and Bessie think Mrs Enticknap is 'perfectly right in wanting to leave', since the work is 'very trying for her, and her health is not very good'; she would do well with a 'quieter life', and would 'look after May and Gussie better'. They are 'most sorry to lose' Enticknap: he 'has his faults, but is 'in many ways quite invaluable'.

Julian is very well. Hopes his parents will 'keep well in London'.

The Shiffolds. - He and Bessie are 'much distressed' by the news about Keith [head gardener at Wallington, who has had a serious bicycle accident] and hope to receive more news soon; fears it will 'mean a long illness in any case'. Bessie is doing well. Mrs Grandmont is staying with them; she 'is not very strong, but quite cheerful', and Robert thinks she will benefit from resting here. Is going away tomorrow or Saturday until Tuesday; mainly at Cambridge, but staying a day in London.

Has had all his proofs now; there are few corrections, but he must wait for [Donald] Tovey to return from performing in Budapest to 'go over the Ariadne [The Bride of Dionysus] with him'. Has more than six hundred addresses now [on the circulation list for a flyer of his book], but will be lucky if sixty of them buy the book.

Hopes the coal strike will be 'averted'; supposes they will not know for several days. Might see his parents on 'Monday next' if they are in London; hopes they are keeping well.

Hotel Bristol, Rome. - Pleased to hear that the weather at Taormina had improved; she and Sir George were unlucky there. Arrived in Rome on Saturday evening, and they have had some lovely days; have just returned from a long expedition to the site of the old town of Veii, near Isola Farnese, when they had to 'cross rivers on stepping stones & get across boggy places, & slip down banks' but enjoyed it very much. They will make many excursions to places round Rome; just regret there are no flowers or green leaves out yet; their guide today said the woods were 'usually carpeted with violets & anemones' at this time of year. Elizabeth should 'arrange it with the little people' if she thinks it would be best for the five lire to be saved; agrees it would 'be a very nice thing if they are not disappointed at not having it to spend'. Asks if they can send some bougainvillea and an asphodel plant to Mr Keith [the gardener] at Wallington before they leave Ravello. Aunt Margaret [Holland?] has had laryngitis but has recovered. Sir George is very happy; 'he loves Rome'. Lanciani [?] is going to take them 'over the Forum to explain the new discoveries'. Hopes Elizabeth has 'made friends with the dogs' and is 'enjoying Mrs C. T.'s [Florence Cacciola Trevelyan's] gardens'

The Shiffolds, Holmbury St. Mary, Dorking. - Thanks her for the 'very pretty book-marker', whose 'design looks Italian'. Bessie is 'quite well again now'; Julian has had a cold, but not much of one. The snow has now all gone, and it is 'much milder, and has rained a great deal'. Is afraid the Annual [of New Poetry] cannot come out before Christmas, because of the 'shortage of printers and bookbinders', which is a 'pity'. Has corrected his proofs, and since his own contribution is last, only the binding should remain. Hopes to see Constables on Thursday or Friday to see how things are going. Hopes his mother will like his 'Indian play [The Pearl Tree, Robert's contribution]. It is not particularly ambitious'.

Bessie will write soon. They think Miss Barthorp is 'very good with Julian', and she is 'a cheerful person to have in the house. She is rather less shy than she used to be'. Has sent the Times [Literary] Supplement to [Edward?] Keith.

The Shiffolds, Holmbury St. Mary, Dorking. - Thanks her for her letter; the 'sausages were very much appreciated, especially by Julian': thinks he had 'one for breakfast on three mornings'. Also thanks her for the Times [Literary] Supplement; will send it on to [Edward?] Keith. Is very sorry to hear how ill Booa [Mary Prestwich] is; has just written to her, and will try to get Julian to write as well. Bessie and Julian are well, and Bessie's cough now seems to have gone. The weather is still 'frosty', but generally less cold, with sunshine; however, they are 'very tired of the frost and snow'.

Is going to London tomorrow for a night, and will return on Tuesday afternoon with Mrs Gibson and the baby. Hopes to see Charles, as he has not done so for 'some weeks'. Bessie will write soon about Julian's birthday present. Hervey Vaughan Williams, the 'eldest son at Leith Hill Place' is engaged, and they are 'all very pleased'. Does not think his mother knows him: he is Margaret's brother, 'a very nice fellow, of huge size, and rather slow (not stupid) at talking and thinking, and slow at getting married too'.

Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - Thanks Elizabeth for sending her birthday wishes, though it is 'really too old to be noticed now'. Glad she enjoyed The Park, which is 'a nice old house, & a curious relic of the past'; it was less 'encircled' by the town when she was a child, and they used to 'ride about country lanes'. Annie told her she was going to give Elizabeth the necklace; thought she would be pleased with it. Poor Miss Fitch 'the older one, she is 19, who played Eviey [?]' has jaundice; Mr [Charles Augustus?] Fitch's housekeeper told Caroline he 'did not "understand young people" & was "much too kind to them" & gave them "too many good things to eat". Miss Fitch is still in bed and will not be able to leave for more than a week. [Edward] Keith took thirteen prizes at Rothbury show. She and Sir George are reading Carlyle's early letters aloud, which she 'much prefer[s] to Johnson'. Sent some figs yesterday; hopes they arrive in good condition. Asks about the Jones [Herbert and Lily?]

On headed notepaper for Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland:- Thanks his mother for the letters and the books: one, 'the life of C. looks very interesting', but the other 'the Indian, seems to be the same as he sent back a week ago'. Doesn't mind reading it again, as it was interesting, but hopes 'the library has got more than one Indian book'.

They went to Otterburn yesterday; did 'not find much to see, but of course there was plenty to imagine'; however, there was little time for that since they had to 'run 5 miles to Wedderburn to catch the train' to avoid having to 'bivouac for the night on the field of battle'. There is 'no 2nd Vol to Stanhope' here; asks her to bring it if she can find it. He and Booa thought the diary they gave to [Edward?] Keith 'looked rather small by the side of the beautiful book [they] gave to [John?] Thompson', so they have decided to try and find another botany book, which Robert will pay for. Does not know where to get it or what it should be, and asks his mother for advice. It is no good giving him the same one as Thompson, and 'the two volumed coloured one is not full enough'.

On headed notepaper for Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland:- Mr Belfield arrived last Saturday, and Robert met him at the station. Likes him 'very much so far in every way': finds him 'very interesting' and they get on well. Thinks he teaches 'very well', as far as he can say from the little experience he has had of that so far: they have done some Thucydides, and began Tacitus today.

Yesterday they fished, but caught nothing so will wait until they have had more rain. 'Very windy' last Sunday, but they still went to church in the morning. Hopes his father is keeping well, and 'the good cause is prospering'. Sees that K[ing] Harman is dead, and wonders 'who will be appointed in his stead' [as parliamentary Under-Secretary for Ireland]. There 'is no fear of the Manchester murderer [John Jackson] now', as Robert sees he has been caught.

Thornton [gamekeeper at Wallington] caught a 'large pike yesterday at Capheaton lake'; he had gone there to 'see about a dog'. Thanks his father for his letter and '[Mountstuart?] Grant Duff's about the flower'. Thompson and Keith [John and Edward, gardeners at Wallington?] 'came in to see the books and found out several things they had not known'. Sends his love to his mother, and asks his father to thank her for the books and say that Robert will write to her tomorrow.

On headed notepaper for Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland:- Thanks her for her letter and books, two of which he got this morning: has read 'some of the big one' and finds it 'more interesting than he ever expected'; the 'translation itself is not up to scratch' but the story is very good. Today it is raining heavily, but he wants to 'get a walk at all costs'. Went to Harwood yesterday afternoon.

Is getting on very well with his work, 'and also with [his] Sepoys'. They are now busy putting in the flowers in the beds at the front of the house. Keith and Thompson [gardeners?] came in yesterday to 'look at the books, and find out about several doubtful flowers'. Booa [Mary Prestwich] was 'very interested in them'. Is glad to hear that 'Keith's brother has passed', and that his mother likes Mr Belfield. Is sorry that Charlie has 'not got the poem [prize], but it was something to come second'. Booa is very busy, and 'working all day at the butter and baking etc'. Taylor 'does very well for a beginner in his profession', though he makes mistakes sometimes. Hopes his father is well.

Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - Glad Elizabeth is seeing some friends, and that the '[house] business is moving on'; advertisement from "Country Life", showing prices usually asked in Surrey, originally enclosed. Went to Newcastle yesterday to hear Mrs Ward 'speak at the opening of some "Special Schools"', which she did 'very well. Saw various 'Hodgkins & Peases's', and brought Mrs Ward and Dorothy back to stay at Wallington. Next week they are expecting Aunt Annie [Philips], Phil [Morgan Philips] Price, Hilton Young, Eleanor Cropper and Cicely [Frances?] Wedgwood; next week Theodore [Llewelyn Davies?], Mary Bell and Dorothy Wedderburnl. Elizabeth and Robert will see them if they come on 20 August, though they do not have to decide yet. The weather is so windy she has to tie on her hat. Keith [the head gardener] is sending some more fruit today. Sorry that Mrs Fry had 'the trouble of writing twice'; it was 'such a pretty letter, in picturesque handwriting'.

Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Thanks for news of Julian; he is bound to be homesick sometimes, but she thinks he will enjoy school; it is worse for Elizabeth, so is glad she is 'having a change' with a friend. The Runcimans came for the day yesterday; it rained but they talked all day. Asks if she may keep the photograph, and what news Elizabeth has had [of Robert?]. The garden is in a 'deplorable state' because of wind and rain; Keith has gone on a well-earned holiday and only has one man and a boy now. Nora [Trevelyan] is still here; Caroline worries about her catching a chill. Julian's letter was very good. Hopes Miss Barthorp [his old governess] will be happy.

Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Glad Elizabeth enjoyed Mary's visit: she 'seems to spread cheerfulness round her'. Fears the wait [until Elizabeth's baby is born] may go on for a while. Sir George is slow to recover; he can amuse himself now 'with his puzzle', which 'is a blessed invention'. Very fortunate that Booa [Mary Prestwich] has kept well. Asks what Elizabeth thinks of Mary's music lectures, and wonders 'how much the Cambo people understood of them'. Glad Madame Grandmont [Bramine Hubrecht] is in England. Has written to [Edward?] Keith about Gussie [Enticknap] but not yet received a reply; supposes 'he is seeing what he can arrange'.

Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - Glad that the hard part of the move is done; very eager to see Elizabeth and Robert's new house, terrace, and view. They are 'in an artistic atmosphere', with 'the old smell of oil-colours in the hall' since Mrs Collingwood, friend and pupil of Ruskin, has painted one of the vacant panels 'most lovelily' with sweet peas. [Edward] Keith has won a great prize for his sweet peas, so they 'are immortalised just at the right point'. Tells Robert to read the 'composite autobiography of Gibbon', put together by Miss Holroyd [relative of John Baker Holroyd, 1st Earl of Sheffield?], which is 'six times better than the six genuine ones'; almost wishes they had never appeared. Is taking a week's holiday after finishing the first two hundred pages of his new volume [of "The American Revolution"] and having 'disposed of' General Burgoyne; will show Robert two chapters and a 'most beautiful map of [his] own composition'. Will be glad to see Elizabeth and Robert here. Takes note about Stopford Brooke.. Comments in a postscript that it is his birthday today, and he turns sixty-seven.

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.

Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Hopes Elizabeth's search for a nurse goes well; recommends the "Morning Post" for advertisements. They have had a good time with George, Janet, and the children, who have been 'very much better' behaved. Asks if Elizabeth would like an Otterburn Tweed for a coat and skirt; originally enclosing samples of patterns for her to choose from. Gussie [Enticknap] 'looks very cheerful' and will go to Mrs Davidson's [lodgings for the gardeners] soon; Keith says 'he wands a good deal of looking after & "knows nothing of work"'.