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The Shiffolds, Holmbury St Mary, Dorking. - Julian and Bessie start for the Netherlands on Friday; Robert had hoped to travel with them, then on to Italy as the Berensons have invited him to stay for a few weeks, but it would be 'very difficult' to get from the Netherlands to Italy at the moment, so he is 'going direct through Paris'.

Is just finishing correcting his proofs of his Lucretius; has translated 'rather more than a third [of De Rerum Natura]' and doubts he will 'ever do much more of it'. After reading two volumes of [Richardson's] Charles Grandison, he and Bessie have 'laid him aside for a time, and are reading some of Tchehov's short stories. A more absolute contrast could not be imagined'. At his best Chekhov seems 'quite perfect', though he has 'a certain proportion [of] pot-boilers, that don't amount to much' but are 'always brilliantly told'. They like Sir Charles Grandison, the book rather than the character, and 'find even the parts that ought to be dull, amusing in their way'; however, it seems to Robert inferior in most respects to Clarissa*'.

Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Hopes that the 'gales will favour' Robert and his family. Has written to Drummond's instructing him to pay the usual fifty pounds into Robert's account. Asks to be remembered to [Bernard] Berenson, and for Robert to send any volume of Chekhov containing something he would recommend reading. Notes that Robert has been reading [Richardson's The History of Sir Charles] Grandison [see 46/257]; Clarissa is a 'thing in itself' but he has scarcely got himself into the right mood to read it twice in his life; feels the same about Rousseau's Confessions. Is reading through Bergk [his edition of the Greek lyric poets].

Holly Lodge, Richmond Park, S.W. - Does not think he would be able to come to Wallington, as he has to go Scotland a few days earlier than he intended to at first. Yesterday was 'delightful': it poured with rain so he read 'all day without stopping': '"Vita Nuova", [Brooke Foss?] Westcott, Montaigne, "Sir Charles Grandison" and the life of F. W. Robertson'. Asks whether Bob has read the last: it is worth it for Robertson's letters; 'the life part, by Stopford Brooke' is 'quite well done'. Got an 1818 edition of Montaigne in five volumes at his mother's shop, 'not so nice in some was as Quaritchs', but still very nice' and is reading it with 'delight'; also got Leighton's Rabelais, which 'gave great satisfaction'. He and [Desmond] MacCarthy went to see the "Sign of the Cross" on Saturday; found it 'much more amusing than the Alhambra', which he thinks 'dealt the final blow to [his] curiosity about Music Halls'. Asks 'Am I not saucy?... (this is all exactly in the style of Harriet Byron [in "Sir Charles Grandison"]. His mother says 'she is as well as she ever was', and does seem to be, but she has also agreed 'to take care of herself' so he hopes 'all will be well'.

Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Sent a post-card about the [Grosvenor Crescent] Club; hopes Elizabeth has heard from the Secretary. Lunched there when she had to be in London on Tuesday but was not able to see the Secretary; thinks it will be all right if the application is not in by the 20th. Glad some 'pleasant' people have been at the Pension. She and Sir George go to London on the 19th. Charles has been seeing lots of people in Paris and returns tomorrow, though he is not coming to Welcombe yet. Asks if Elizabeth and Robert will be back by Easter, and if so whether they will spend it at Welcombe. Also asks if she will come to see any of Benson's plays [at Stratford], which start on 20 April. Expects they are soon leaving for Sicily; hopes Elizabeth will find her cousin Marie [Hubrecht] better. Henry James has been to stay at Welcombe for a couple of days; he 'is so much nicer than his books, though she greatly admires some of them. Hope Robert's play is progressing; asks when the other ["Cecilia Gonzaga"?] will be published. Enough money has found to begin the new "Independent Review"; G[eorge] is 'continually rushing up to London about it'; he is taking rooms there with Hilton Young after Easter. Caroline has been attempting to read [Richardson's] "Clarissa" but fears she will not succeed; asks if Elizabeth is getting on better with it.

Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Encloses a letter from Gilbert Murray which he asks Robert to return; curious what he says about Euripides; is not sure whether he agrees with him about the New Comedy, of which he is planning to read the fragments soon; Terence is charming. Is reading Theocritus and is much impressed; is also reading [Cicero's] dialogues, which 'tunes the mind for one's morning's work'. Sends love to Elizabeth; is glad she is reading [Richardson's] "Clarissa"; thinks Clarissa's 'short letter to Lovelace' may, in its way, be 'the most extraordinary thing in literature'.