Showing 15 results

The Shiffolds. - Dr Clarke says that Bessie 'could not be doing better'; Paul is also very well, and 'sleeps a fair amount'; Clarke will come again tomorrow. The nurse 'manages splendidly'. The household is also getting on very well: Mrs Ent[icknap] 'takes a great deal of trouble' and Alice also 'helps well'. Gussie [Enticknap] was 'kept in the dark until yesterday evening', when his mother took him to see the baby; he 'seemed very much astonished'. He thinks he will 'soon have someone to play cricket with, but that is looking forward too far'.

Everyone thinks the baby looks a lot like Robert; supposes he must be, but to him he 'looks far more like Mr Finch'; asks his mother not to tell this to Finch. The baby is 'certainly very healthy and a fair size, 7 1/2 lbs and 20 inches'; his hair is 'about Bessie's colour, or a little darker, and his skin is rather brown'.

Lady V[aughan] Williams has just called to enquire and invite Robert to High Ashes for lunch; thinks he will go, as Bessie usually sleeps after lunch. Miss [Sophy?] Wedgwood and Margaret Vaughan Williams also came to see the baby this afternoon, and 'thought him very charming'. Does not think he missed writing to anyone: sent telegrams to Aunt Anna, Aunt Meg, Uncle Harry, Aunt Nora, Janet, Molly and a few others. Sends love - also from Bessie and Paul - to his father; will write to him next. Must finish now as the post is due.

8, Grosvenor Crescent, S.W. - Will send this letter to Florence as expects Elizabeth and Robert will leave Ravello today; sorry that they have not had good weather. Has been very busy this week visiting Cheyne Gardens: [George and Janet's new baby Mary] is very sweet and Janet is doing well; George was worried until it was over but now is cheerful. He and Sir George, and perhaps Charlie, are going to Cambridge next Friday to vote against compulsory Greek; they do not expect to succeed but there is 'a great rally on both sides'; it is said it would be carried if it depended on the residents. The Watts and Whistler exhibitions [at the Royal Academy and the New Gallery, Regent Street] are both 'most interesting collections', and there is a 'wonderful show of Oriental China in Bond Street'. Asks if Elizabeth and Robert will prefer to go straight home or stay the night in London; is anxious to see them again. It will be interesting for them to see the [new] house and the Enticknaps' baby. Sorry that Charles Booth is still so unwell; has not quite understood whether Mary and Imogen joined them. Glad Elizabeth is not going to Holland; thinks it would be too cold and damp. There is much illness about here; Uncle Harry has bronchitis, and Nora [Trevelyan?] a bad cold. They have decided to keep the old Broadwood piano in London, and want Elizabeth to choose a little one for Welcombe before Easter. Has heard no music, but they have been to a Bernard Shaw play ["John Bull's Other Island"]. Booa [Mary Prestwich] cheerful and looking forward to seeing Elizabeth; Janet much pleased with her letters. '"Mother" [possibly Florence Bell?] is very active and... good on such an occasion'.

Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Glad Elizabeth has someone to nurse her, and hopes she will now improve and be able to get to the sea. Dreadful weather, with fog and mist; thinks there are floods. Mary is taking her first ride; finds her 'very nice and companionable'; [Humphry] is 'sweet, & still rather pathetic'. Thinks they go home on Saturday as G[eorge] and J[anet] are away for just a fortnight. The 'Kenyons of the BM, the H[enry] Y[ates] T[hompson]s and Nora [Trevelyan]' are coming for next Sunday. Would like to hear Julian say doctor; 'he will have to say 'baby' before long'.

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.

[On headed notepaper for Wallington]:- Thanks his mother for her letter. Is very glad Charlie has 'got his remove'; does not think Charlie will be able to get it this term, as there are 'only three or four removes'. Mr Bowen says Héricourt was the last battle of the Franco-Prussian war, and that Robert's father probably knows it by another name [the Lisaine?]; Robert has forgotten this, and will ask Bowen again.

Likes 'Van's form [ie A. G. Watson, known as 'Vanity'?] very much. He was rather strict at first' but is better now; Robert 'also could not understand anything he said' at first, but is 'over that now'. Thinks he will get on all right. In the 'cock house match' today, he hears that Weldon's house was beaten by Haywood's, and that it was a 'very exciting' game. Enjoyed himself in London; they went to dinner with Aunt Nora [Trevelyan, his grandfather's second wife?] who seemed very well. A Mrs Strutt was there.

Mr Woodhouse 'stopped' Robert's tooth, and said the rest would be alright if he 'cleaned them well'. Mr McKenzie said he did not think Robert would want a 'tonic' yet. Has been sent two bills from Pickard & Curry and the watchmaker; Charlie advised him to sent them to her. Hopes his father is all right.

Cambo, Northumberland. - Bob's parents have just visited to tell her the 'good news' [of his engagement]. Taormina [where he met Elizabeth] will be 'more than ever a charmed spot' for him. His parents both seem 'much pleased' with his choice; they are all eager to meet her. The family already has 'cousins at the Hague' in the British Minister, Sir Henry Howard. Congratulates Miss Van de Hoeven 'heartily, knowing what a prize she has got in winning [Bob's] warm heart' and how happy she will be.

On headed notepaper for Herris Dean, Falmouth (crossed through): - Georgie 'comes down here and plays at trains with the balls'; Aunt Annie [Philips] has 'got all the animals in the ark'; Robert broke his sword 'by knocking it into the ground'. Aunt Nora gave Charlie a new gun yesterday.

Paris. - This is his 'last fortnight in France'; will be about a week in the Verdun district with [Francis] Birrell, leaving for there tomorrow morning, then a week more in Paris, after which they will start home, he expects around the 23rd. Has found a 'competent successor as librarian, a young American [John Leslie Hotson]', who Robert expects will need to move the books to the Verdun district before long. More than half the books are 'already in the country équipes'. Thinks the 'library has been a success, and the books have been a great deal read'; though it 'ought to have been started two or three years ago'.

Is very glad that Aunt Nora was 'not in a state to know about Truelove's death', as he understands from his mother's letter. Aunt Nora was 'always exceedingly kind' to them all, and Bessie too. Truelove was a 'very nice man', and Robert will be 'very sorry not to see him again'; met him in London last year, and he was 'as handsome as ever'. Hopes George's son Humphry has recovered [from scarlet fever, see 12/303]. Has 'quite good reports of Julian'.

Glad his father is going to 'read Lucretius through'. Has recently translated the whole of the fifth book; there is 'rather a tiresome part about the stars and the sun, but the first few hundred are fine, and the last 700 superb'. May do another book soon. Even when Lucretius is 'dull and absurd and unpoetical' he interests Robert, as his 'power of exposition seldom fails him, and the movement and texture of the verse is usually at a high level'. Acknowledges that 'his astronomy was bad, even for his time'.

Hopes to see his parents soon.

On headed notepaper for Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland:- Thanks his mother for her letter and the 'extract about the match'; after the start they [Harrow against Eton?] have had, they should win. Is glad C[harlie] could see it; hopes he will be all right now, and 'get his certificate'. Aunt Nora came on Friday, and Robert saw her yesterday; she seems very well. Tyne [a dog?] is ill, and Thornton [gamekeeper at Wallington?] thinks he will die soon. Spi[der] is 'all right'.

The floors have been painted, the carpets put down, and 'everything look[s] nearly as usual'. It is raining heavily today. Booa [Mary Prestwich] is very well, and does not have as much to do now Agnes has come.
Mr Sidley [John James's aunt in Birkenhead has just died, so there was no service this morning. The 'Willow boys are here now' [Willoughbys has been crossed out - Robert may be referring to Henry William Trevelyan and his wife Charlotte], but they have not been able to see them, since it rained when they were out to tea, and the 'Willow boys' were out when they called.

On headed notepaper for Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland:- Sends his father '[m]any happy returns' for his birthday; would have forgotten if not for his mother. Hears 'by report' that he is going to speak at Morpeth on Saturday but 'can hardly imagine it to be true', as if so his father would be coming to Wallington, and Robert would have heard of it from home.

This is the 'first fine day' they have had for a long time, and they are going to tea with the 'Willow boys' [Henry Willoughby Trevelyan and his wife Charlotte? see 45/247] this afternoon, after 'two unsuccessful attempts'. Aunt Nora seems very well; Robert has seen her twice, but has not yet introduced Mr B[elfield]. Spi[der - a dog?] 'had a fit yesterday, but is all right now'. Hears that Booa's brother is better, and that she is returning tomorrow.

They 'seem to have won a great victory last Saturday' [in the Eton-Harrow cricket match?]; heard his father was going to see the second day; Charlie sent him a 'very interesting letter' a few days ago about it. Is rather tired of 'fishing and getting nothing': has only caught six trout this year, two out of the pond and weighing a pound each. Hopes his father's rheumatism is better, and that his mother is well.

On headed notepaper for Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland:- Asks her to thank his father for his letter. Will not be long now until the family are all together at Wallington. They are going to lunch with Aunt Nora today, so he does not have much time to write. When she comes, asks her to bring his 'paper battles' if she can find them; thinks they are in a drawer in their room in London. It does not matter much if she cannot find them; no doubt Georgie will 'not forget the soldiers'. Spider is still very well.

Went to Elsdon yesterday, and 'nearly to the Raw' [a fortified pele house nearby]. Usher has asked him to play in a match at Mitford next Saturday, but she and his father have 'thought it best [he] should not play in foreign matches'. Notes, however, that he has 'had no cricket except that one match a long time ago', and no practise as it 'does not begin until dinner time': asks if he could therefore play on Saturday, though he is 'not particularly anxious to'. Is glad Charlie is all right, and that Booa's brother is better. Booa herself is very well.

Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Glad to hear from Bob that Elizabeth is doing well. Wishes she could come to see her but says she is 'a useless old lady now'. It will be good when she can see the children; Julian will be happy to have a 'companion' while Elizabeth is kept upstairs. Mary spent last night with them and cheered them up. Had a busy afternoon with the Nursery Ass[ociatio]n; Nora [Trevelyan] is very old, and 'so very deaf' that it is hard to 'get things through'.

Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Very good to see Elizabeth's handwriting again, and to hear she is recovering; agrees that it is 'a comfort to know that things could not have gone really right' [with the baby Elizabeth has miscarried]; sure she will bear the disappointment with her 'usual quiet strong way'. Is in bed with a cold; not bad, but she wants to be careful and get rid of it at once. Annie is coming this evening for a short visit; she will then go to Pen Moel for a month. Mary came to dine and sleep last night; she cheers them up and her 'energy is wonderful'; she takes a lot off Caroline's hands.

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.

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'.