Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Glad they can hope to see Elizabeth; thinks it is the best thing, especially as she is keeping Nurse Catt, which is very good news; the other nurse cannot have been very clever or she would have made friends with [Julian]. Charlie calls him 'a superb little chap'; he and Mary will be glad it is settled. Asks Elizabeth to tell Nurse Catt how glad she is she is staying, and that the north country air will do her good. Asks her to let Maria know when to expect them [at Grosvenor Crescent]; discusses travel arrangements. Sir Charles Dalrymple and his daughter [Alice?] are visiting on the 24th, and some neighbours are coming to dinner, but otherwise they will be quiet. Geordie [George Lowthian Trevelyan] has recovered from chickenpox and the girls show no sign of it yet; they have not been to Wallington so Julian will be safe. Politics is very exciting; was 'very glad the Conference failed'. Elizabeth's Dutch paper has begun to arrive. Sure she has done the best thing about the nurse, even if Mrs Catt only stays a few months. Good for the Liberal party to have the R[ussell] Reas at Tannhurst [sic: Tanhurst]; fears Elizabeth cannot fight the seat this time. Asks Elizabeth in a postscript to send a telegraph with their arrival day, as she may want to go to Newcastle.
Intended to send a small book of his "Translations from Leopardi", but then decided to wait until Julian and Ursula next come here, as they 'might easily lose it moving about'. Pity they cannot come now, when the flowers in the woods are at their best. All quite well here; the [Sturge] Moores will return in a month. Originally enclosing, on Bessie's request, a photograph of 'the street in Forest Green that [Julian] used to admire'. The Bluths and Tet Htoot were here at Easter, but otherwise they 'seem to see nobody'. Hopes that Tet Htoot will bring two Chinese friends to visit. A 'bad London raid last night'; hopes he and the Bluths are all right; Irene [Cooper Willis?] has fortunately been away. Has very few friends in London now besides these, Logan [Pearsall Smith] and Alys [Russell]. Virginia [Woolf]'s death 'a great blow'; she 'felt she was going out of her mind again and could not face it'. Is re-reading "To the Lighthouse", his favourite of her books; is writing something on her for the "Abinger Chronicle", but it is 'impossible to say anything adequate in the way of criticism'. Forgets whether Julian knew her. Is continuing to translate Montaigne and getting 'a little bored with it'; 'much more fun writing poetry, even if it is not worth much'. Hopes Julian has managed to see Ursula at Taunton, and that she is well again. Has heard from G.M.T. [his brother George] that Charles is giving Wallington to the National Trust now instead of leaving it in his will; he will continue to live there, and one of the family (probably his son George Lowthian) will stay there after his death; this will save on death-duties so there will be much more money for the children. Supposes this should not be discussed until it is announced. Hopes Bessie will go with Miss Simpkins for a few days to George and Janet next month; otherwise she never 'goes away from here, which is not good for her'.
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Will be very pleased if Elizabeth brings Julian for a visit. Is going to see Annie from 21- 24 July, though unluckily Charles can come for that weekend so she will miss him; Mary is staying on with the children to look after Sir George; when they leave Julian can have the nursery to himself; can arrange the time for Elizabeth's second visit later, when they hope to see Robert too. Thinks Elizabeth is lucky to get Nurse Withers: it is rare to get two good nurses in succession. [Charles and Mary's] children are well and have 'a very satisfactory governess'. Asks how much help Elizabeth's nurse will need; would need to get extra help to provide the waiting on which Mrs Catt had. The Davidsons only have one young man lodging with them besides Gussie at the moment, so Mrs Enticknap could stay there; Caroline would pay.
Palace Hotel, Rome. - Sorry to hear about the fall of the cedar and the little dog's death; Elizabeth must be sad. Glad about Paul; had never noticed how much 'gymnastics' a year old child does pulling itself onto its feet until Geordie was around them this autumn. They have been out to the Appian Way to lunch, and spent a morning going over the grounds of the Villa Mills on the Palatine which is to be pulled down for excavations. Always thinks of Robert at the Farnese casino on the Clivus Victoriae, where he had the 'altercation with the friend of the custode'. Has read [Cicero's] Philippics, inspired by Ferrero, and has 'rarely enjoyed a book more'; also delighting in reading Terence. Glad to hear what [James Stoddart?] Bain told Robert; there are beginning to be signs that the book [Volume III of "The American Revolution"] is a success and is doing well in America, though it came out in the midst of an unprecedented 'financial tornado'. Their hotel is quite full of 'very quiet, respectable Americans', most of whom are ladies.
The Shiffolds, Holmbury St Mary, Dorking. - They are having a 'very pleasant Christmas'; everyone is well. His father's 'kind letter' to E[lizabeth: 10/69] came this morning, and 'gave her much pleasure'. The baby seems to 'thrive'. Since it is Christmas today, Bessie 'had him dressed in an old Dutch dress, made 70 years ago, in which he looks very Dutch and pretty'.
Is going out to dinner tonight to High Ashes for the V[aughan] Williams' Christmas dinner; does not mind leaving Bessie as she is 'really so well'. She sends her love, says she 'thinks a great deal' about Caroline, and is much enjoying getting letters from everyone. Paul got his 'first letter this morning in the shape of a Christmas card from Pauline and Georgdie' [Charles and Molly's children].
Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - Hopes Elizabeth is not over-burdened with 'guests & small worries', and that she might be able to do some good for her cousin [one of the Hubrechts?] and his wife; always difficult, but 'the mere fact of his relations being kind to her' may help; it is all very sad and unfortunate for their child. Is glad Julian 'flourishes'; expects it will be good for him to be in the nursery with the other children [Mary and Humphry], who will be there throughout Elizabeth's visit. G[eorge] and J[anet] will come for a week, and Aunt Annie [Philips] will also be visiting then. Hopes to hear about Robert's plans for travel abroad in the winter. Hopes the game arrived; will send some grapes on Monday. Thoughts on the strikes: sympathises with the men, and there is 'something fine in them acting together', but the violence has been very unfortunate, and the economic impact great. Churchill 'seems to have made mistakes' but it was hard 'in such a storm' to see clearly; Sir George thinks he was 'not strong enough at first'. Amusing that the House of Lords has been so entirely forgotten. The [tenants'] party was on Thursday, and went well except for a little rain; Sir George and Charles made speeches, and Geordie said afterwards 'That was nice poetry'. He, Pauline and Kitty gave their grandparents a concert the other day; their governess is 'clever at getting up little entertainments' and they sing 'very prettily' now. Audrey Trevelyan has been to visit, and they like her a lot. Sends love to Bob; hopes Mr [Donald] Tovey will have done much work on the opera ["The Bride of Dionysus"] before he goes.
Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Glad Elizabeth enjoyed her visit from A. [Annie Philips?], whom she will see tomorrow, and that she is getting better; hopes she will keep Mrs Fry on to look after her. Asks if Mrs Grammont [Bramine Grandmont Hubrecht] is expected. Mary went to Cambo to conduct her concert on Saturday, and had a car accident on Sunday; she suffered only slight cuts to the face but it 'brought out the neuralgia in her arm most violently' so she had to spend all Monday with Dr Ethel Williams; hopes she is better and at Harrogate again. Seems to have done [Mary and Charles] 'more harm than good'; she would like to go to look after them but 'dare not travel'; is taking great care of herself and Sir George. The three children arrive from Harrogate tomorrow. There has been a heavy frost, and 'all Stratford was skating yesterday'; one man broke his collar-bone on their pool.
Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - The weather is intensely cold, but [Charles and Mary's] children do not seem to mind it; Elizabeth must take great care not to get a chill. The present Sir George sent was all his own idea; he wants Elizabeth to have 'the best nurses & doctors' and any 'luxuries' she likes without worrying about expense. Asks what Julian would like for his birthday; there is a good little toyshop at Stratford. Charles and Mary seem to be recovering and hope to go to London on Wednesday. Hopes to come and see Elizabeth at the end of the month. Tinson [the gardener] is sending some sea kale.
Garden Corner, West Road, Cambridge. - Thinks things are going well about [Charles's son] George, thanks to Bob's 'most kind intervention'. Both Georges wrote to Moll, and she has 'played up' and almost certainly persuaded Charles to postpone the announcement [about his intention to leave Wallington to the National Trust] until the Tenants' Party on 1 August, and to write a 'nice letter' to his son inviting him for next weekend. This change of plan is good as regards the tenants, who 'ought not to read of [Charles's intentions] first in the papers'. Best not to mention it to anyone else; only a few NT officials will know there has been any postponement. Thanks Bob again for what he did.
Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Thanks Robert for his letters and telegrams about Elizabeth; hopes the 'affection of the kidney' will disappear entirely. She will need to be looked after for a long time; good that there is a change in the weather. The children [Geordie and Kitty] are well; is glad Julian 'flourishes'. C[harles] and M[ary] have gone to London; expects that Charles will now be better and that Harrogate was too cold. Everyone, including Annie [Philips] is very sad about Elizabeth 'as everyone loves her'. Asks him to keep sending 'a line or a Post card every day', though he need no telegraph. Asks when Robert's book ["The Bride of Dionysus"] will come out; Sir George's will be out very soon.
The Shiffolds, Holmbury St. Mary, Dorking; sent to Lady Trevelyan at 8 Grosvenor Crescent, London S.W. - Thanks his mother for her letter. Is 'very sorry to hear about Geordie's measles'. While Robert was out, Bessie opened the letter and read it; he thinks it is better she should know, and his mother should not fear she will worry about it. Of course Bessie hopes Paul won't catch the measles, but if she feels if he does her mother-in-law and Booa [Mary Prestwich] will do everything necessary; he probably would not get it badly, as Geordie has a mild case and Paul seems 'quite strong' now. They are both sorry Caroline has 'so much trouble and worry from this, on top of other troubles'.
Bessie is well, and 'was up most of today'. He has 'stupidly' addressed a letter for his father to Wallington, so this will be delayed; also forgot to enclose Lord Rosebery's letter [see 12/146] so sent it by the next post, also to Wallington. Hopes 'the publishers' dinner will be a success'; has now got the specimen page [from the Chiswick Press, for his new book Sisyphus: An Operatic Fale] and has sent it to Fry for his opinion; he himself thinks it 'looks fairly right now'.
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Glad to get Elizabeth's letter, though wishes she were better; hopes the 'tonic' suits her and that it is not too hot in Surrey. Would much like to have Elizabeth at Wallington for a while 'with no housekeeping & only the child & the violin' to get strong. Molly and the children are coming for ten days on 29 June; thinks she will then settle at Cambo. Sir George is very interested in the US election contest; the latest developments are 'most astonishing' but she thinks Roosevelt is 'the right man to be President'. Good to hear that Julian remembers them; wonders if he will remember Wallington. Wants to hear what Dr C[arter?] says when Elizabeth sees him again. Caroline will give Elizabeth the name of a treatment recommended to Annie [Philips] by her doctor.
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Hopes that the preparations are going well, and that Elizabeth's poor friend [Gordon Bottomley?] copes with the journey. This morning there is a thick mist, and Julian will not go out until it clears so she is writing in the Hall while he plays with his toys. His cousins came to tea yesterday; Booa [Mary Prestwich] 'gave them a performance with the dancing kittens and the black man', and it was bed time when they left. Nurse is sending a parcel of washing. Grace cannot find the Kodac [sic: Kodak camera?]; does not remember Elizabeth having it when she came from the Park [Annie Philip's house]. Had a nice letter from Margaret [Vaughan Williams]; very glad she enjoyed her visit. Miss [Lily] Noble is coming today, and the Dick Holts next Sunday. Julian is 'making "his kisses"' for Elizabeth on a piece of paper [enclosed] which 'he thinks a great joke'; hopes Elizabeth does not miss him too much. Sends the "Times Literary [Supplement]" which is amusing this week.
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Thinks Elizabeth will have had a good passage [to the Netherlands]; hopes she is quite rested by now. Glad she left her friends so comfortable, and hopes Mr B[ottomley] will recover in the south. The [Richard Durning?] Holts came yesterday before lunch then at 9.30 in the evening drove to Newcastle with Charlie. Julian came down after tea and behaved very well. It is Geordie's birthday tomorrow and there will be 'great festivities'. Charlie looked well and will return on Thursday if possible for the Northumberland County Council. Miss McCrachan [?] is coming to tea today, but in general she now expects to be very quiet. Asks Elizabeth to let her know when she will be back; wants to organise things such as Christmas trees. George 'says "every one ought to have one war they can enjoy in their lives" & that he is having it'. It [the First Balkan War] is 'certainly most dramatic'. Asks to be remembered to Elizabeth's sister [Mien Röntgen] and hopes everyone is well.
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Glad to hear that Elizabeth got through the journey all right; she must be delighted to be in the Netherlands again after so long. Glad she likes 'England to live in'; supposes she feels there is a 'broader and more varied outlook', but expects it is good to bring up children in the 'quieter atmosphere of Holland'. Julian is quiet enough here and has been pulling his train around the corridors; he wanted to be alone and told Booa [Mary Prestwich] to go and talk to Nannie. His nurse sensibly did not let him go to the birthday party [for Geordie] as he would be too cold and not enjoy it so much; the party ended with 'fireworks and a bonfire'. The children and Miss Richardson [their nanny?] are coming to tea in the nursery today. A niece of Booa's has been killed in a motor car accident; her husband, a doctor, was driving. Brown has been in a bicycle accident and is 'very bad', but she thinks he will pull through. Thinks she will have a Christmas tree this year and give two parties, one for the children of the family and some friends, and one for the schools; suggests around the 10-13 December, before they go to Welcombe the following week. Sir George is very cheerful, though anxious about Roosevelt: hopes he will be second [in the US election]. She hopes that 'England will play a decent part, & help to settle the [First Balkan] war'. The Holts are sending one of their daughters to Miss Weisse [her school, Northlands].
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Glad that Elizabeth is having a good time [in the Netherlands]; will send this letter to Amsterdam, and the nurse will write tomorrow to the Witte Huis. News of Julian; he is very interested in a 'motor extra of "Country Life"' which Sir George has given him, and wants to know the names of all the cars. About a hundred and seventy or eighty pheasants were killed at the shoot yesterday, and nineteen hares; Sir George was too tired and says he will not go out again. Caroline and Mary drove, taking Geordie; Mary is well again, and Caroline thinks there is now no cause for anxiety [about her pregnancy]. Interested to hear about Elizabeth's sister [Mien Röntgen] and her life; it must be 'a very good atmosphere for the boys'. Glad Elizabeth will be back on 25-26 [Nov] but she should not worry about staying a few days longer if she likes as Julian is quite well. Hopes her friends [the Bottomleys] at the Shiffolds are well. Has had a letter from Robert on his arrival at Bombay, in which he sounds cheerful and glad to have finished the voyage. Julian has 'a box of large dominoes with which he builds pens for his sheep'; he is 'so nice with his fingers'. A postscript on a separate sheet describes Julian going around with his train upstairs 'talking at the top of his voice' to everyone he meets; she likes to hear him around the house.
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.
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.
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'.
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.
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'.
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.
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.
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'.
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. - 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'.
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, 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.
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.
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".