Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Hopes that the snow in Italy has melted. Spent one night and '2 busy days' in London; Sir George went up for the day yesterday. Spent that evening with Janet, since George was at a 'review meeting' [for the "Independent Review"?], who is very well and 'enjoys the situation to the full'; approves of her preparations [for the forthcoming birth]. Thinks Charles and Mary are staying at Cambo till the end of the month. Mary has 'thoroughly got up the subject of Taxation of Land Values' and has given several short speeches on it; she has also written a leaflet which Caroline hopes to get printed for the W.L.F. [Women's Liberal Federation]. Good that she can help Charles politically. Wants Elizabeth's advice about pianos: there ought to be one at Welcombe, and she would 'like to change the monster in London!'. Has a room at Welcombe to write in now, so Elizabeth can now have the drawing room to herself to practice in. Expects Meg Booth will arrive [in Italy] soon. Asks if Elizabeth is thinking of going to Taormina this year; hopes the Grandmonts are well. "The Times" is 'so hard up for an argument for the sugar tax that they say it is unhealthy and that people should not eat so much'. A party of neighbours came for lunch recently, and more will come. Has had a 'nice letter' from Mrs Enticknap.
12 Pembroke Gardens, Kensington, W. - Has read "Sisyphus" with 'much amusement'; thinks that 'apart from the ingenuity of the plot' Trevelyan has kept it 'all so thoroughly Pagan', though comments on his own 'cheek' for saying so when he knows no Greek and little Latin. Supposes it would 'go very well with a good deal of music', but wonders whether it might be 'rather long' if totally set to music. Asks whether Trevelyan has seen Walter's article in the "Fortnightly [Review]" on the Whistler [biography by Elizabeth and Joseph Pennell]. Sorry that the Women's Liberal [Federation] 'did not employ women stewards at the Albert Hall [for the meeting on 5 December] as there would not have been as much violence; his sister was there for the "Manchester Guardian", and 'very indignant at the violence', but Sickert thinks 'the audience were most to blame in taking things into their own hands'. Asks whether 'the Jingoes' will come into power, since 'as soon as one tries Home Reforms one has the Upper House against everything'.
Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Has instructed Drummond [his banker] to pay fifty pounds into Robert's account, as before. Charles and Mary here for the weekend; Mary has been re-elected to the Committee of the W.L.F. [Women's Liberal Federation] 'one of the few set of initials that [he] can recognise'.
8 Grosvenor Crescent, S.W. - Glad that Elizabeth had 'such a satisfactory interview with the nurse'; hopes she will engage her in good time. Aunt Annie [Philips] seems to have enjoyed her visit to Elizabeth and Robert and to like the house and the view, though thinks it will be damp in the autumn. Unlucky it was so wet on Sunday so she could not see the view from [Leith Hill] Tower. She and Sir George are going to Welcombe on Friday; C[harles ]and M[ary] are going to the Lakes today; Pauline will stay at Rounton not with the Trevelyans. Sure Elizabeth will enjoy her Sunday visitors, and the 'fresh air on [her] hill will be delightful' now the weather is getting hot. Wishes they could go north, but she has to be back on the 18th for the Fedn [Women's Liberal Federation?] meetings. Has told Maria [Springett?] that Elizabeth may want a bed [at Grosvenor Crescent] on the 6th, but is sure Elizabeth will write herself to her in good time.
Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - Has returned from a busy time in London; glad to see Elizabeth and Robert's letters to her and Sir George. Saw George, Janet, and the babies, who are 'very sweet'; also Mary, who is 'wonderfully well' and may have her baby at any time; the nurse is in lodgings nearby. They have been trying to settle their winter plans; asks if the 27 or 28 [November] would be a good time to visit, after her Comm[itt]ee meeting on the 27th. Asks how long Elizabeth's sister will stay. Will then return to Wallington for a week; they think they will come south before Christmas. Hope it will be fine for Sir George's shoot tomorrow; several people cannot come because of Parliament, but he has Humphry Ward, John T[revelyan?], and T. Taylor; Dorothy [Ward?] and several neighbours are also coming.
Does not think the women who have been imprisoned [for militant suffrage campaigning] are 'hysterical'; believes they arranged the '"demonstration"' and were sent to prison as they intended. Difficult to say what she thinks of such tactics: in many ways 'it does harm, decidedly; but in others it forwards the cause', keeping the subject alive as less dramatic campaigning cannot do, and arousing 'a great deal of sympathy among labour people'. Does not approve of their methods, but is reluctant to condemn them as she is 'not ready to suffer [herself] for the cause, in the way they are doing'. The [Women's Liberal] Federation are 'very much alive' and were busy from eleven till six on Tuesday; good to see so much energy. Is looking forward to seeing so much of Elizabeth and Robert. A postscript notes that she is 'ordering a piece of Toasting Cheese to be sent'.
The Cherry Orchard, Stonor, Henley-on-Thames. - Thanks Trevelyan for his letter; wrote as he advised to Mrs [Penelope] Wheeler and suggested 1 October for the first rehearsal [of Trevelyan's play "Meleager"]. Cannot make any this week, and must then go to Nottingham on 2 October till the end of the week for the National Liberal Federation conference; suggests rehearsing regularly on Wednesday and Thursday after that; she could arrange to stay in London each Wednesday night. Mrs Masefield suggests they should work at Boars Hill for at least three days before the performance, so everyone can 'get accustomed to the little theatre'. Looking forward to meeting Trevelyan again and working 'with... and for' him in "Meleager".