Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Hopes that Julian is well again. They were 'taken aback by the arrival of the Twins [Hugh and Florence], but C[harles] and M[ary] seem very pleased; if Elizabeth visits, asks her to report on how strong she thinks the babies are: the boy seems small. Nurse Robinson is good and experienced. Offered to have the older children at once, but have not had a reply. Asks if Elizabeth would like to visit at the end of April or beginning of May, when it is very pretty here with the blossoms. Still recovering slowly [from shingles], with much pain and irritation; it is dull for Sir George, but they are better quiet; the 'daily anxiety [about the war] is very wearing'. Hopes Elizabeth will have her music competition; asks if she has been playing much.
Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Thanks Elizabeth for her letter and J[ulian]'s; he seems to have a great deal of imagination, 'sometimes about "Jesus" sometimes about the sea'. Glad Elizabeth changed the book; it was the only one she had as her stock of presents is very low. Lucky that there were no complications in Julian's illness; expects they are not in quarantine. Good that C[harles] and M[ary] so like having the twins [Hugh and Florence]; hopes the boy develops well as he 'must be very small'. Still recovering slowly [from shingles]. The oldest and biggest poplar tree 'snapped in the middle' last week, and is being cut up to carry away. Thanks Elizabeth for the paper about the peace conference in Holland; fears the war 'will go on for a very long time' and is very anxious: 'the next few months will be terrible'. Does not think she knows Mr [Harry?] Norton. Sir George has just heard that Charles F. Adams has died; he had not heard from him for a while; the older brother [Henry Brooks Adams, in fact a younger brother?] is still alive; he was here two years ago. Has had news of a great snow storm at Cambo last week, causing trains to stop and many other difficulties.
Robin Ghyll, Langdale, Ambleside [on headed notepaper from the Master's Lodge, Trinity College, Cambridge]. - News about Bessie's grandson is 'really glorious'; expects that if he is dark he will be like his mother [Ursula], with 'just a general background perhaps of Trevelyan blackness'. She and George think the name 'splendid'; wonder why 'Philip' was chosen, and whether it is a 'general reminiscence' of the Philips inheritance which would 'amuse Aunt Annie'. The Trevelyans are 'doing well' for grandchildren at the moment, with Thomas Arnold [Humphry and Molly's son] and also Marjorie and Patricia's children; thinks there are currently 'a round dozen', counting Kitty's three, then Patricia's next is expected at Christmas. Thinks young mothers are very 'brave' now, to come out of hospital after only ten days, then only have a nurse for three weeks; she herself 'recovered so slowly' after Mary was born that she cannot imagine how she would have coped with the baby on her own. True that the child is 'much more neglected nowadays... popped in the pram and left to sleep out for hours in all weathers'. Thinks that 'Humphry's Molly's' two eldest 'did suffer from it' but are recovering now, though the second still has trouble with consonants at over three and a half; Janet suspects this may be 'a result of early shock from cold', and remembers having to speak privately to the doctor to 'make him speak to Molly'. She and George are spending time Robin Ghyll; have not been there together since June 1939; it is 'wonderful, as always' but though the weather in the south has been 'scorching', they have had heavy rain. George went back to Cambridge on college business a fortnight ago and brought their cook with him on his return; she is a 'nice adventurous person, and loves coming out on the fells' with them, but even George is 'content with short walks now' and they 'feel quite proud' when they walk over to take tea with Nelly Rawnsley.
The Master's Lodge, Trinity College, Cambridge. - Encourages Bessie to make a 'great and mighty effort' to visit before George and Janet go north in the summer; Miss Simpkins is of course also welcome. They are fairly busy in May, with visits from the Cheswrights and the 'young Fletchers', but June is possible; though it would be best to avoid Whitsun when travelling is bad, and the weekend of the Trinity Ball as she thinks she will have to put up some of the 'young ladies' at the Lodge'. Bob could come a little later, unless he prefers to come to Hallington in August. Does 'tremble a little' at the thought of Hallington 'with limited service, limited food and limited petrol'; have just spent three weeks there 'putting it all to rights again' and it does look attractive. Wants very much to show Bessie all their babies [grandchildren]. Asks in a postscript whether Bessie would be able to bring any rations, as she and George have 'no allowance of any kind'.
The Shiffolds, Holmbury St. Mary, Dorking. - Thanks his mother for her letters; is glad to hear that his father's hand is 'getting better without too much trouble', and that she herself is better [after shingles]. Hopes to visit before long, but his and Bessie's plans are 'not quite settled yet'. Went to London yesterday and saw 'Mr [Stanley] Unwin of Allen & Unwin', who is going to publish two of Robert's books. Robert will bear part of the costs, but Unwin is 'much more likely to push them and make them successful than Longmans, as he takes part of the risk himself, and is generally enterprising'. The first [The Foolishness of Solomon] will probably be published early in June.
Bessie and Julian are well. Robert 'lunched with Charles, and saw Molly and the twins'. All seemed 'quite well and cheerful'.
Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Thanks Elizabeth for her letter, which tells her much more about the babies [Hugh and Florence] than she has yet heard; they will be 'an anxiety' for a few months and she hopes the nurse understands how to feed them, since she does not think Mary can usually nurse for long. Sir George has done 'wonderfully' so far, recovering well from the chloroform, with not much pain in the wound. The Birmingham doctor, Douglas Heath was 'a very clever energetic man'. Looks forward to seeing them all; hopes Robert will come for a visit and leave Elizabeth and Julian there as long as he can. Janet may come on 2 May to take M[ary] and H[umphry] away; no-one else is coming. Glad Elizabeth is not going to Holland, which would be very interesting but 'too dangerous'. Janet saw George off yesterday; will be a very interesting visit to America if he gets there safely. Returns to the letter to say that the doctor has been and is happy for Sir George to get about, as long as he keeps his hand still. Is glad Nannie [Evans] is well.
Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Has just heard by telephone about Mary [the birth of her and Charles's twins]; thinks that Miss Clarke [the governess] will bring the older children here in a few days. Booa [Mary Prestwich] is a little better and will be able to 'superintend' them, and he thinks Caroline will be happier to have them; she is still very weak after her illness, which she has not yet got rid of. A good article in the "Nation" last week on "The Bible and popular language and tradition" made him think of 'Julian and his Bible studies'. The 'Irish pieces' by Miss [Maria] Edgeworth are 'excellent'; reminds Rob of the pleasure she felt when Uncle Tom [Macaulay] complimented her in a footnote to the 6th chapter of his "History"; Macaulay used to say that the 'revelation of Lord Calambre' [in Edgeworth's "The Absentee"], like the return of Sir Thomas from Antigua in [Austen's] "Mansfield Park" were the true parallels to 'the discovery of Ulyssess to the suitors'; he also said the discovery of Tom Jones's parentage [in Fielding's novel] was the 'real parallel to the revelations in "Oedipus Tyrannus". Used to read Edgeworth's novels with 'great delight' when young, but cannot now; she wrote in 'more simple and elementary days'.
Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Sir George's hand is much better; he can use it at meals now. Aunt Annie [Philips] is coming on Saturday; thinks this will do them both good; they have been very sad not to see the children. They are busy, but it is still good to see someone occasionally; she has people to tea sometimes though Sir George does not like afternoon callers. Hopes Elizabeth enjoyed the meetings; Mary would be disappointed 'not to take part & hear C[harles] speak, but 'twins are a great tie'; asks if she thinks Mary will be able to go on nursing them. Pleased to hear good news of Julian; wishes there were nearby children who could join in a class with him, but 'perhaps play is as good'.
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.
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Arrived late after a 'rather uncomfortable journey', and found the car waiting for him with 'Norah Richmond and a Miss Grant in it', who remembers meeting Bessie at Wallington; Norah is a 'handsome very independent young lady, who paints'. Is staying in the West room, he thinks for the first time. Molly 'seems cheerful' and is pleased with 'Mary's successor and with the man about the house'. The District Nurse will look after his leg. Many children here: he thinks Elizabeth, Janet and Katriona, and Marjorie's whole family will come soon as well as Patricia's two. George wants him to come [to Hallington] for a couple of nights so will probably stay on 24 and 25 August before travelling back to London on the 26th. [Claude] Colleer Abbott has written asking Bob to visit him, but he must refuse; expects he can see him soon in London. Is not too tired by the journey. Hopes Bessie had a good day in London, and had 'nice talks with Ethel and Sam [Clausen]'.
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - It is 'quite extraordinary' how they hear nothing of the war here, though it is only twenty miles from the Tyne 'which is seething with work & excitement'. Booa is certainly better; she is enjoying doing Caroline's hair while Pantlin [her maid] is on holiday. Meta Smith is paying a visit this week, and Annie [Philips] also comes to stay on Friday. It is very cold, and last night they sat with their feet up on the fender; it is pleasant not to have lamps [due to the black out] but it makes the room colder at night. Has heard from Miss Clarke to say [Charles and Molly's children] are all happy at Criccieth; the baby [Florence] is here and they see her often. Thinks it must be bad weather at the Lakes. Hopes Elizabeth will have Lily soon to help with Julian. Thinks she must enjoy teaching him. Sir George is busy arranging books; the billiard room is full of them, and he is filling the new bookcase. Heard news of Bob at the Park; supposes he is now at the Lakes.
Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Bob's visit was timely, as Sir George was not well and it did him good to talk; he has recovered now. Hopes Elizabeth will see Dr Cornish; the nettle rash shows she needs treatment. Does not think she should eat porridge: she herself gets a rash when she eats it. The children are stopping until Monday since the weather is cold. Though Marjorie was indeed 'very dull & stupid' when Robert was here, she has brightened up; she is backward in learning but 'quite intelligent... and rather good with her fingers'. Hopes Miss Clark will teach her. The little one [Florence] is a 'vigorous clean little imp'. Glad Julian is improving; thinks children gain self-control as they grow. Wonders whether Elizabeth will get to London soon; would be good for him to see other children's work. Is interested to hear about Jan Hubrecht [his diplomat posting to Tokyo] is 'a fearful long way to go', and she half wonders at him taking his wife and children. Booa is definitely recovering, but slowly; she has been ill for three months. Sir George liked 'the Butler book' [Henry Festing Jones's edition of Samuel Butler's notebooks?]. Caroline would like to read the Tagore. Read 'the Poetry Annual' ["An Annual of New Poetry", edited by Robert Trevelyan?] with interest; 'if not very striking [it] is thoroughly pleasant reading'; asks when she should order it.
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - There was a strong hot wind last night; Mary and the children's journey north by sea from London must have been rough. Supposes Julian will be home [from school] this week or next. Annie [Philips] is here; was happy to rest for a while, but now wants to be more active; is going to Newcastle for the day tomorrow. Letter is continued next day: Annie has gone by the early train; she is lunching with Mrs Wild. Originally enclosing a letter from M. C. [possibly Margaret Cropper?] which 'shows that she appreciated Surrey'; a pity she is 'so grave'. Will soon start to think about Elizabeth's visit. Sir George is 'fairly well', but needs much looking after and is 'easily tired & fussed'; Caroline says ruefully they are both 'getting really old!!!'. A postscript on a second sheet says that Mary and the girls got home last night; the sea trip was enjoyable but they are very tired; Marjorie looks thin and as if she has suffered from the heat.
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Happy to have a good account of Julian will be glad to see him. 14 or 15 [August] will suit them for Elizabeth's arrival; hopes Bob will also come for a few days. Will take lodgings for a week from 22 August at Whitley Bay for Elizabeth if she likes; it is nearer Tynemouth than Newbiggin, probably a little larger with more trippers, but a nice place and more convenient for getting to Newcastle to catch the express. Originally enclosing a letter from Mrs Aynsley [?], the widow of a farmer, who has gone there for a fortnight; they can give Elizabeth a hamper of food to take.