Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Thanks Elizabeth for her long letter: 'the old ladies' must have been very funny. Hopes she found Julian well. Margaret and Reggie Smith are staying on their way north; he seems sensible and is going to travel to India and so on before 'settling down at the Bank'; Margaret 'has wonderful masses of red hair' which she wears in a strange style [a sketch illustrates this]. Hopes the weather will be good so they can have a picnic; Elizabeth and Robert were not fortunate with the weather for their visit, she loved seeing them and is glad they enjoyed themselves. Likes Robert's poem very much and so does Charlie. [Charles and Mary's] children came on Sunday, with 'little Steven Runciman'; Nora [Trevelyan?] has arrived 'so the Cambo "season" has commenced'. Hears there will be about six hundred people on the 'Liberal Excursion'; hopes they have good weather. Pantlin has gone with her cousin to the seaside. Mrs [Nora] Sidgwick is visiting next week. Hopes Mr Enticknap's journey home went well; she sees Gussie at work [in the gardens] 'looking busy and happy'.
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Sure Elizabeth's 'outing' will do her good and she will go back 'fresh' to Julian. Mary thinks he is doing well. Hopes Mrs Catt [the nurse] will return 'well & cheerful'. Robert's letter was cheerful; is amused that he has 'been induced to run in a Hunt', even though he says they are 'not so energetic as George's party'; must have been pleasant from the names he mentioned. Hopes Elizabeth found the Waterfields well; asks if she saw the Northbournes, and is not sure whether they have yet come north. Mary is sending her children to Wallington around 13 July and coming herself around the 22nd; Charlie probably will come at the beginning of August. George and Janet will not come till September
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Sorry that Julian is not gaining weight; he may do better with the 'non-peptonized milk'. Glad that Elizabeth is going away for a while, though understands she cannot go far from home. Robert is having marvellous weather. She is quite well now, and happy to be 'very quiet'; Mary's children are coming around 20 July; she joins them on the 25th and they go to Cambo a few days later. Sends a jacket for Julian and will make a larger one for autumn if Elizabeth tells her the size. Glad Mrs Catt is improving. There is much rebuilding going on at the Portico, to give 'the young men [gardeners?]' a sitting and bed room and Mrs Davidson a back kitchen, plus 'better sanitary arrangements, which will not be finished for some time; Gussie [Enticknap] can therefore not be taken on for a while. The W.L.F. [Women's Liberal Federation] went well on the whole; Mary 'thought Lady C. [the Countess of Carlisle?] lost her temper too much' but 'the northern delegates were delighted with her'. Sir George is 'no worse for his expedition & was glad he went'; at least a hundred and fifty PCs were sworn in.
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Sure Mary C is very happy with Elizabeth; she is 'so deeply interested in Netherlands history' and anxious to hear about it from her. Glad Julian is well; Sir George is not at all well today, hopes he will recover soon. Thinks Julian 'will really become an architect' as he seems to have 'such a genuine taste for it'. His 'amusement for the holidays' is delightful. Wonders if "Dr Thorne" 'is a success'; expects so, as [Trollope] had not yet become 'lengthy'. Has been very interested in Robert's book. Expects the shooters will not mind the weather. Would like to see Julian's railway; must be great fun to make it. A 'new cousin' appeared yesterday, a grand-daughter of the Reverend George T[revelyan] who is staying at Hepple. George Lowthian brought her when she was lunching at Cambo; he is 'such a charming young man now'.
Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Anxious to know how Emma [Elizabeth's niece] got home; fears she was caught by the storm on her crossing. Quite a lot of snow here, which is not thawing though there is not much frost. Hopes that Julian is all right and will be soon out of quarantine; has not had much news from him. Annie [Philips] is 'very energetic' and walks into Stratford every day. Thanks Elizabeth for sending a book through her, which Caroline is now reading. Asks if she has heard about Mary and young George's 'adventurous walk on the Yorkshire moors'; they thought they might have to sleep out but found a cottage to stay in the end. Is up again and taking walks in the mornings; dull for Annie, but they cannot even ask anyone to tea 'in this weather'. Will be very glad to see Elizabeth when it is convenient; asks when Robert goes abroad and whether he will get to Greece; he must come to see her before he goes. Sir George is mostly well, but staying indoors. Hopes Elizabeth's 'new couple [of live-in servants: the Faggetters] continue..' [letter missing its end]
Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Sure Elizabeth is glad to be in bed in this cold weather, though since there was sunshine yesterday and today she and Sir George have taken some walks. The nurse has kindly written a long letter with much she wanted to know about Elizabeth and Paul. Is very glad to hear the nursing [breastfeeding] has begun so well; Mary and Pauline were both 'troublesome' though the boys [Theodore and George Lowthian] were not. Longs to see Elizabeth and Paul but must wait, as both she and Sir George are going to be careful not to catch chills. Has been busy with the accounts, and has 'embarked on another large Vol. of Sorel'. Asks if Elizabeth has had visitors yet; sure Miss Noel will be delighted. Janet is coming on 7 January, and her mother the next day; 'rather alarmed' at the thought of having Mrs Ward for 'two whole days'. Asks if Paul has been out yet; likes the idea of him 'being carried up and down the Tannhurst [sic: Tanhurst?] Terrace which is so sheltered & sunny'. Long holiday at Stratford, with Christmas, bank holiday and local holiday; there has been tobogganing on the hill behind the house, and the pond will soon be frozen enough for skating.
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Relieved to hear that it [an operation to remove Julian's tonsils] is 'well over'; she, and even Sir George, have been a little anxious. The pain will not last long; sure Julian will be 'philosophical' about it. The children have an extra weeks holiday in September; G[eorge] and J[anet] go to Robin Ghyll today and Monday, and come to Wallington on 6 September, so Elizabeth will have a week with them. Wonders how the three boys [Julian, Georgie and Humphry] will get on. Glad Elizabeth likes the home and the nurses.
Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Delighted to have the news of the birth of Elizabeth and Robert's son; wants to know how much he weighs and so on; hopes the labour was not too hard. Wonders if Robert 'has ventured to hold the baby'; he must start when it is small. The hounds [the local hunt] have been here this morning and she and Sir George went out to them; looked 'very pretty'. Asks whether they have decided the baby's name is to be Paul; Sir George likes it. Amusing to think of the 'three boy cousins' [with Theodore and George Lowthian Trevelyan] so close in age.
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Had not written, expecting to hear something definite about R[obert]; he is 'not going just yet' [to France to work for the Friends War Victims Relief Committee ]. Sorry Julian has not been well. If Robert goes this month, Elizabeth could bring Julian up to Wallington before he starts school. George arrived this morning; he is going to London on Monday and then hopes for some time in the lakes with his family. Very distressing news about Mrs Tovey [going into an asylum]; [Donald] Tovey will 'be "at a loose end" again in domestic matters'. Glad that Elizabeth has found a 'good home' for Miss B[arthorp, Julian's governess]. Miss Clarke has left so C[harles] and M[ary] 'have the children to themselves'; it will be hard work, but they seem happy. Janet and the children go to Robin Ghyll on Tuesday; the H[enry] Y[ates] T[hompson]s come a few days later. Sir George is not well, but it is not serious; he gets worried by change and visitors though 'in reality he likes it'. Asks Elizabeth to tell Julian that Humphry has caught a fish 'at last', and Georgie has shot a hare as well as rabbits
Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - Good that the little boy [Charles and Mary Trevelyan's son] 'arrived so promptly'; both he and Mary sound to be doing well. He is to be called George Lowthian. They are now concentrating their interest on 'the next event' [the birth of Elizabeth and Robert's child]. Plans to be with them by the 27 or 18 November, but Elizabeth must say if she wants her to come sooner, telegraphing if necessary. Glad Elizabeth's sister [Mien Röntgen] and the nurse are coming. Mary seems to have 'got through wonderfully well'. Sir George is 'hard at work again' after his visit to the Park [Annie Philip's house] and the shooting party. They have been arranging some Wedgwood china, which Aunt Margaret left to him, in the passage; she left Caroline 'a charming thimble in a box' and both thimble and china have 'family histories attached'.
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Hopes that Julian enjoys school; thinks he should, as he is 'fond of his fellow creatures, not too sensitive, and very sensible'. Was amused by Elizabeth taking him to church; thinks it is sensible to do so occasionally so there is no 'mystery about it'; it is pleasant as a 'cheerful meeting of neighbours' and she goes herself sometimes for that reason. Encloses money for his suit, and asks Elizabeth to take a snapshot of him in it. George has 'got away from his work' and may get back to London today. Janet is delighted, and Sir George is very relieved; he 'fretted about him... after the casualties'. Expects Geoffrey [Young] will return to England soon; false limbs are so good now that 'he will be able to walk, though of course not to climb'. A charity event in Cambo on Saturday collected over twenty-two pounds for the Red Cross, and a whist drive tomorrow will raise more; everyone is looking forward to it, and it seems most people here play whist on winter evenings. Georgie has fallen from a tree at school and hurt himself; surprising that climbing without a master being present is allowed.
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Bessie's letter with the six poems came this morning; will see John [Dower] again tomorrow and show him some, though John 'chiefly wishes to show [Bob] some new ones of his own'. John 'talked a good deal' yesterday, but was 'rather breathless'; seems he 'still tries to believe that he can get well'. Is in the room with George L[owthian Trevelyan]'s furniture in which used to be his father's room; the bed is 'very comfortable', though there is 'no washing apparatus'. Besides Kitty and her family there are several children, but he 'can't make out who they all are'; they spend all day outside, and are 'quite quiet as a rule'. There is also 'a Mrs [Esther?] Bicknell' and a friend of Kitty's whose name he has forgotten; and a daughter of Sybil Thorndike [Ann or Mary Casson] who sings 'chiefly folk-songs - not very interesting, but quite nice'. Len and Geoffrey [Winthrop Young] are coming just as he leaves, but Bessie will see them. Charles and George have gone out shooting; saw George at breakfast, and expects he will visit him [at Hallington] before he leaves on Tuesday. Expects Bessie will soon hear from Miss Dyson; asks whether 'that really is a certainty now'. Asks to be remembered to Miss Cook. Forgot to give Bessie a 'note Ursula Wood made about nurse-housekeepers', which he thinks might be worthwhile Gordon B[ottomley] trying; sends it now to send on if he thinks it worthwhile. Sends love to Bessie; is sorry he will not be at Wallington with her, but at least will see her on 27 August.
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - He and Caroline received and Robert and Elizabeth's letters this morning about Julian's success in the School Certificate; Julian impressed them favourably in 'character, intellect, and body'; found him very similar to his cousin George, which is a 'compliment to them both'. Envies Julian seeing the "Mikado" for the first time. Has had two months now of the 'horrid wound' [to his hand], though it is now a scar rather than a war; is much weaker but cannot expect to be otherwise.
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - The 'next generation' are very fortunate: Mary Caroline, George Lowthian, and now Julian can read Macaulay, Carlyle, and [Motley's] "Dutch Republic", and the books he himself had to read 'almost secretly, and as a sin' because he was meant to be writing 'copies of bad Greek Iambics' and puzzling over Demosthenes; now his grandchildren's 'first duties' are to 'read "Clive" and "Chatham" and Ferrero'. Interested to hear that Robert and Elizabeth have been reading Herodotus aloud together; when Elizabeth comes to Wallington he will show her Paul Louis Courier's paper, which is a 'masterpiece'. Begins re-reading the last two books of Herodotus himself on Wednesday; is finishing Tacitus's "Annals" today; discusses the contrasting styles of it and the "Histories". Agrees completely about Horace's "Epistles". Asks for advice on editions of Thucydides.
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Has heard all about the Hunt from young George, who has been here for several meals recently with his father [Charles]; if Robert had not told them his hand was getting better they would have been anxious about it. Looking forward to Forster's novel; has been 'much in communication with him' recently, and he has sent some interesting reminiscences by his aunt Laura ; realises Forster cannot be the son of his friend Henry [Thornton] Forster, but of a much younger brother, Edward; there are two 'very characteristic stories' in Laura Forster's memoirs of Sir George's mother at fourteen or fifteen, and himself at seven. Very interested to read the descriptions in the "Times" about 'the undertakings of the Balliol Dramatic Society' [notices of the Balliol Players' tour of Robert's "Oresteia" translation: Jun 12, 1924; pg. 10; Issue 43676 and Jun 14, 1924; pg. 8; Issue 43678] and would like to hear more about it; has Robert's "Oresteia" from 1922, but not an 'acting copy' here if it has been published.
Has just returned from the Lake Hunt, 'stiff, but not crippled': describes some events of the three days of hunting, including being a hare on Sunday, when he 'enticed 3 hounds up Kirkfell (nearly 3000 feet)'; draws a map [on the last page] to illustrate his capture by hounds including Charles and young George. Was driven to catch his train by [Laurence John?] Cadbury 'who makes cocoa' in 'a care that looks as if it were made of silver'; the roads were 'full of Whitsuntide motors' but Cadbury 'drives very skilfully' and, passing the cars and charabancs where he could, sometimes went up to 80 miles an hour by the speedometer when the road was clear. Has almost recovered from the 'stiffness' caused by the Hunt. The Sangers and Dorothy Reece [later Dorothy Archibald] have been visiting; Mrs Sanger is still here, until Monday, when [Goldsworthy Lowes] Dickinson is visiting. Elizabeth went up to London with Mr Sanger and Daphne to see Wagner's "Meistersinger", and returns tonight. The 'Exhibition has been demolished' after 'enormous' crowds in its last days, including 'the chairman of the I[ndependent] L[abour] P[arty: Clifford Allen], the ex-President of the Board of Works, the King, the Prince of Wales in Ivel cheese, and several distinguished literary personages.' Hopes Julian is enjoying bathing.
Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Very interesting, but 'very sad and depressing' about [Maurice?] Amos [the failure of treaty negotiations between Egypt and the UK?]; had heard from George along the same lines. Looking forward very much to seeing Elizabeth this evening. Trouble at Sidcot [School] with diphtheria, so George and Kitty are back early for their Christmas holidays, but Charles and Mary are making the best of it. Is reading [Euripides's] "Phoenissae", which he calls a 'noble play' and places 'with the "Orestes" and "Alcestis" after the "Medea" and "Bacchae".
Originally enclosing a cutting from the "Manchester Guardian" about the new Stockholm town hall. Just returned from Welcombe; Grandpapa and Grandmama seemed quite well. Wonders how the oak-tree caterpillars will cope with the current heavy rain. Is going North for the Lake Hunt next week; [Julian's cousin] George is coming for the first time; hopes to see the Bottomleys [Gordon and Emily] on the way, unless they have gone to the Hebrides as they thought of doing. Went to see "Romeo and Juliet" last week when he was in London; there was a very good Juliet [Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies]; the Romeo [John Gielgud] was 'at any rate a young man, which he is not always' and was 'moderately good', except that he 'cried and sobbed much too much' when banished; the others were all worse than another, and he left as soon as Juliet had taken her sleeping draught.
The Shiffolds, Holmbury St. Mary, Dorking. - Thanks his parents for their 'great kindness' in making Robert and Bessie a present [of fifty pounds, see 11/197] on their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. Would like to thank them even more for 'the never-failing affection and kindness' they have always shown her. Believes Bessie has written already.
Saw Charles and George at the Lake Hunt; 'Young George [Charles's son] was once again more ποδάρκης [swift-footed; Homeric epithet for Achilles] than most or all of us, and Saturday may be said to have been his ἀριστεία [the hero's finest moment], he being uncaught when the day closed'.
Bessie has gone to London for the night, having been given a ticket for tonight's opera [Wagner's Meistersinger, see 15/36]. Julian 'writes cheerfully' from Bedales.
The Shiffolds, Holmbury St. Mary, Dorking. - Will be going off to the Lake Hunt next Thursday; hopes the fine weather which has returned today will 'last over Whitsuntide'. The Lake Hunt is 'a serious matter to one who will be fifty-three in a month from now', so he has 'to go into a mild form of training'; has already lost several pounds of weight 'so as to have less to carry up to the Haystacks and the Gable'. Fears that George Lothian [sic: George Lowthian Trevelyan]. Believes he went to Welcombe last Sunday with Charles; hopes they 'found Mama fairly well and enjoying the warmer weather'. Expects the cowslips and narcissuses will be almost over by now.
He and Bessie had a 'very pleasant surprise visit on Saturday and Sunday' from Molly and Florence; they came 'by motor bus' to Wotton, walked four or five miles from there over Leith Hill, and stayed the night on Sunday, When he finishes this letter, Bessie will read him a 'chapter or two from [Trollope's] The Small House at Allington. John Eames has just given Crosbie his cold eye'. Robert is 'just finishing' Aristophanes' Frogs and beginning to write a new comedy of his own.
The Shiffolds. - Very glad she likes some of the poems in his new book [Poems and Fables, published by the Hogarth Press]; had to take out several he wanted to print, as 'they wanted it to be quite a small book', and in fact has 'enough for two new books already'. Is 'much looking forward to his visit to Welcombe next week'. Julian returns to school next Saturday; he is well and enjoying his holiday.
A 'young engaged couple' are staying here for a few days; they 'both play the piano quite well', so Bessie has some music. They have 'young George [Trevelyan?]'s letters from the East here, and Bessie reads them aloud to Julian. They make very good reading'.
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Glad Robert was interested in the ceremony at Cambo [the unveiling of the war memorial?]; there was a 'very imposing gathering of people', and he discovered a minute in that he should not be 'making a speech, but... preaching a sermon'; strange to 'preach one's first sermon at 82'. Good to hear about Bessie; hopes the Tanhurst concert went well. Has been looking through Paley's edition of Aeschylus, which he has thoroughly studied and annotated in the past; quotes some of Uncle Tom [Macaulay]'s comments on the plays of the "Oresteia". Will be grateful to [Harry?] Norton for his copy of Aksakoff. [Charles and Mary's son] Geoffrey Washington Trevelyan was registered today as 'born on the 4th July, having been born at 12.10 on the 5th, summer time'. Since Georgie was born on 5 November, the two boys 'were born on the two "Journées" of the Anglo-Saxon Race'.
The Shiffolds. - Came back from the Lake Hunt on Wednesday; it 'rained a great deal, and there was a lot of mist', but they still 'went out each day; and had some very good hunting'. Was 'very pleasant' to have George back, and 'young George for the first time', who 'distinguished himself by being faster than anyone else, and caught most of the hares'. This included Robert, though he had his revenge in catching him in turn 'by running him among some rocks'. The last day, he 'fell when just catching a hare (a civil servant from the Education Office)' and cut his hand rather badly; he is now writing with a bandage on, 'which makes calligraphy impossible'; it is now however healing well.
Spent a pleasant half-day at the Park on his way north, finding 'Aunt Annie very well and in good spirits'. Hopes his parents have both recovered from their journey; the weather here is still 'very bad'. Is going to the [Apostles] dinner next Thursday; George will preside and 'is sure to make a very good President'. Forster's new book Passage to India has come out; is just beginning it. Bessie has read it and found it 'very interesting'. Forster spent a year 'as political secretary to Rajput Maharajah of Dewas' three years ago' so 'he has lived a great deal among Indians'. Bessie sends love. They hope his parents 'found Booa [Mary Prestwich] fairly well'.
Hawse End, Keswick. - Was glad to hear that his parents had a 'good journey' to Wallington; was at the Park this morning when Aunt Annie received a letter from his mother. Expects his mother will be tired but soon recover. Aunt Annie seemed 'very well and in good spirits'; the garden looked 'at its best, and the azaleas and rhododendrons were very fine'. Has come here to stay a night at Mrs Marshall's; early tomorrow morning he will set out to walk to Seatoller, where he hopes to find, George, 'George the Younger', and maybe Charles. The weather is fine and he hopes will remain so; it has not rained for some days so perhaps the 'hills will not be too boggy'. There had been a land-slide at the railway near Shap which 'partly blocked the track' and delayed his train half an hour.
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Very good to hear that Julian is 'so much at home in his school'; watching [his grandsons] George and Humphry and remembering his time at school in Hertfordshire makes him see 'a well ordered school is for good inn a way that nothing else supplies'. They expect George and family next week. Very interested in Robert's account of the 'Munitions fire'. The young men from the front must be shown 'very real consideration', such as that in the matter of leave shown towards the two Henderson [possibly Herdsman ?] brothers, one of whom used to work in the Wallington gardens but has now emigrated to Canada, who are serving on different sectors of the front. Is reading in the fourth book of Livy about the first military pay for the Romans. Thanks Robert for his translation from Lucretius, a 'noble looking "brochure"'; expects he has chosen the 'right verse' form. Must read the original again.
The Shiffolds. - He and Bessie have just heard from Aunt Annie that his parents are both well. They are having 'very wet weather again, and the last of the snow has gone'. The Abercrombies leave on Friday; it has been a 'very pleasant visit', and it has been 'very good for Julian to be with the other children, in spite of occasional squabbles'. Robert now reads to him in bed for a while every evening; they 'get through a good deal, mostly poetry'. Julian 'listens to all with equal interest, but says he likes difficult poems best'; he certainly 'cannot understand all he hears', such as the Ancient Mariner. He likes Lucy Gray [by Wordsworth] and [Browning's] Pied Piper 'better still', as well as 'any poem about storms at sea, and people being drowned. His 'special poem', though, is Allingham's Up the airy mountain...[The Faeries], which 'is indeed a perfect bit of literature'. Julian almost knows it by heart now.
Bessie and Robert are now reading Great Expectations; it is a 'far better book than Our Mutual Friend, though the comic parts are hardly as good'. Bessie is very well. Robert saw Molly in London last week, who was 'cheerful, despite a cold'. George [her son, rather than her brother-in-law] 'seemed well, and had just had his first game of football at school'.
The Master's Lodge, Trinity College, Cambridge. - Is also sending this letter to Aunt Annie [Philips], Humphry and Mary. Charles, largely on his wife and George's advice, has decided to hand over the Wallington house and estate to the National Trust at once, reserving a life interest for himself in its management; he requests the National Trust to allow Molly, or one of his children, to stay in the rent for a nominal amount after his death, and for the NT to vest the management of the estate in one of his children; the NT have agreed to declare their intention to do so, though they cannot put themselves under legal obligation without also incurring death duties; George states that the Trust will 'certainly fulfil its promise'. He himself approves of the arrangement, having as Executor of Charles's Will urged it on him since it avoids death duties. Did 'not take a decided view' on whether Wallington ought to be left to the Trust, but when he saw that Charles was determined to do so he became his Executor to 'make it easy as possible for all concerned'; the war and 'probable state of things' afterwards make him 'more favourably disposed towards the plan', as he is convinced that neither [Charles's son] George nor anyone else would be able to 'run the estate burdened with death duties without selling the treasures of Wallington or large parts of the estate or both', and so on 'from generation to generation'. A lengthy handwritten final paragraph acknowledges that the younger George has been 'hardly treated in not being more consulted and given a more definite place in the arrangement'; yet he previously 'showed no interest in Wallington' and his father is determined 'not to treat him as "an eldest son"; given that, the new arrangement is much the best for George.
Rounton Grange, Northallerton. - The news [of Paul's birth] is 'most delightful'; received the telegram at a 'very late shooting lunch yesterday' so apologises for their congratulations being belated. Glad he was a boy since there is for the moment no 'duplication of "Pauline"'. Asks for more news about Bessie: how easy the birth was, and whether she is recovering properly now; more interested in this than 'the exact tilt of Paul's nose'. She had an 'annoyingly long wait' but expects she does not mind now. They are 'immensely pleased'; comments on what a 'fine crowd the 5 bairns [his own Pauline and George, George's Mary and Theo, and Paul] will make a few years hence'.
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - They have just had a 'long letter from Robert' [in the East] but have not yet read it through; expects Elizabeth will also hear from him. Julian becomes ever more talkative. Miss [Charlotte?] Moberly has been to visit. The hounds are coming this morning; does not know whether Julian will get out as it is raining, but he will be able to see them in the yard from the window. She and Sir George are 'greatly distressed' about the 'shocking row' in the House [of Commons, on Home Rule]. Charlie was here on Thursday night; he has gone today with Mary to Alnwick to speak in the place of E[dward] Grey, who cannot leave London. Their children are coming today to see the hounds, then 'sleep and dine' at Wallington. Nora [Trevelyan] came to lunch and to say goodbye as she is leaving; she looked very shaky. Meta [Smith]'s eldest son Reginald is engaged; he is 23 and does not come of age till he is 25, so Meta will not have to leave Goldings till then. Mary is quite well now.
W[est] H[ackhurst]. - Very glad she liked the 'Broadcast on T. E. [Lawrence]', which has been 'successful, as my utterances go' and he had 'fan mail' waiting on his return from Norfolk. Had a 'pleasant time' there, partly with the Kennets and partly with the Sprotts; the first part being '"tough" - bathin', sailin' and so on', which he 'quite enjoyed, and the second 'more archaeological'. Saw Binham Abbey; 'the strange modern rival goings on at Walsingham'; Houghton [Hall], built by Sir Robert Walpole, over which the 'present nobb [?] owner [George, 5th Marquess of Cholmondeley]' showed them for five shillings each; and Felbrigg Hall, owned by a 'fat young acquaintance' of Forster, Robert Windham Ketton-Cremer so therefore seen for nothing. Got 'so enthusiastic' over sightseeing, that in London he took his Baedeker and 'went round the Royal Tombs in Westminster Abbey'.
Is now at home, 'seeing that the outside of the house gets painted'; asks her to let him know when she returns. Will be 'pleased to make young George's [son of Sir Charles Trevelyan?] acquaintance'; he had been visiting the Kennets and Lady Kennet' was very much on to him as she is to all young and personable men. I don't think she does them much good!'
Expects she is still in the north, but will send this to The Shiffolds since 'it contains nothing of importance except my love'. Is here until Friday, when he is going away for a weekend with the Woolfs; not a good time to go, as he is 'so irritated and bored by Virginia's Three Guineas that I don't know what to do. Such an endless ill-tempered prate, and so badly-written in the true sense of writing. She wants a pill [?] she do'. However, is sure he will be 'charmed and captivated' when he sees her.