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8, Grosvenor Crescent, S.W. - Glad to hear that Bessie is 'driving about' and safe. Interested by what Robert tells him from Miss Forster's letters. The review in the "Times" on [Georg] Brandes was very good; praises Brandes's judgement of poetry; thinks it was he who observed that 'Wordsworth might have been a parson, or Shelley an agitator, but that Keats could not have been any thing but a poet'. He himself tends to take the favourable 'Continental view' of Byron. Liked the "Times" article on Robert very much. Countess [Elizabeth von] Arnim took tea with them yesterday: a 'plump, merry, rather common ladylike woman'; her husband is the son of the 'celebrated Count [Harry von] Arnheim whom Bismarck ruined'. She and Miss [Ethel] Sidgwick are his 'favourite contemporary novelists'.

Declares that she has read the paper on the Sophists. Relates that she discussed the matter with Mr Jowett when he came to visit the previous Monday. Jowett admitted 'that G.G[rote] was right but will have it that "Sophist" carried, at that period, no dyslogistic meaning'. Reports that, since Sidgwick and Mrs Sidgwick's visit to her at Ridgeway, she has found another letter of M. Comte's from 1845, and offers to give him a copy of it. Mentions that she also neglected to show him 'a fine Autogr[aph] of A[ugustus] C[omte] - large hand - in flyleaf of L'ensemble du Positivisme 1848.' The last two pages of the latter work 'contain an urgent appeal to his followers to "keep him going", as the chief teacher of the Religion of Humanity.' Expresses her hope of seeing Sidgwick and Mrs Sidgwick again before she dies. Sends her thanks to Mrs Sidgwick 'for her little note'. Reports that she had a visit from George Darwin on the previous Sunday, who gave her Sidgwick's present address. Darwin informed her that he had been on a visit [with [F] Leveson Gower] to A[rthur] Balfour 'in the far north', in August. She expects Professor Alexander Bain and Benjamin Jowett to visit for a few days early in October.

Reports that he and Nora have now got their affairs regarding 'the Education of Women' into order for the term. Has much to do, as he is to lecture on Shakespeare, Bacon, and perhaps Milton in addition to his usual work. Reports that when they left her the previous Monday week, they saw Worcester Cathedral, the restoration of which he 'did not much admire', and then went on to Cheltenham, where they went skating. States that they had a pleasant week at Cheltenham, and that he believes that Mrs Myers [mother of Frederick Myers] health is worse than it was; she 'was much interested about fighting the corporation of Manchester who are trying to turn Thirlmere Lake into a big ugly reservoir for Lancashire towns.'

They had a very pleasant night at Rugby [with the Arthur Sidgwicks]. Declares that Rose [his niece] is 'a charming creature', and reports that the other baby [Ethel, just over a month old] was 'thoughtfully kept out of [his] sight'. '[Jex]-Blake has raised nearly £10,000 for buildings at Rugby', such as an observatory and library, which Henry says 'shows great energy in dignified mendacity'; he himself has donated thirty pounds. They then spent a couple of nights with the Rayleighs, and then went home. Reports that [his cousin] Alfred Sidgwick has sent him another essay, 'which is also not bad'. Hopes that the weather has not troubled her, and reports that they found their 'ill-built house very cold' when they got back to it. Sends on Nora's love.

Expresses her deep gratitude to Nora for having sent her a copy of Henry Sidgwick: a Memoir. Asks Nora to write her name in it in her own hand. States that the early part especially brings back to her 'so much that Roden liked to talk about and so many familiar names too'. Adds that Nora pays a tribute to her brother's memory and work by the memoir, and states that Henry was 'always a true and faithful friend to him.'

Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Likes to think of Elizabeth in Ravello. Has been very busy since coming to Welcombe on 3 January; has been arranging a room for her own use in the mornings, which is 'quite comfortable' though has 'no view' and, currently, a 'hideous paper'. The Arthur Sidgwicks and their daughter [Ethel] came on Monday, Sidney Lee joined them. On Wednesday the library opened; has sent Elizabeth a Stratford paper with a report. The ceremony was 'nicely arranged' and went well; likes the building, which is in keeping with the surroundings. [Andrew] Carnegie gave the building and fittings, which are 'in good taste', then maintenance of the building will come from rates, and there is a subscription fund for buying books. Hopes it will 'do good': there is 'room for "sweetness & light" in Stratford'. Miss Corelli did not appear but 'must be very angry'; is sure she will 'do something malicious'. Mary Booth says in a letter that Charles will probably bring Meg to Elizabeth; gave a 'cheerful' account of the family. Is going to London on Monday, and will spend the evening with Janet. Pleased to hear Mrs Enticknap has had a little girl [named May]; has sent her a coat and hood. Has never read [Stendhal's] "Le Rouge et le Noir", but knows "La Chartreuse [de Parme]". Has Madame [Juliette] Adam's memoirs, and has been 'delighting in Burne-Jones life [by his wife]'. Hope Robert's work is going well; asks whether they are continuing their translation; whether the road is mended yet, and whether the Capucini Hotel at Amalfi goes on 'as before'. They are taking a trip to Rome next winter. Sir George is well; he took a week's break from his book, 'travelling & doing his speech', and now happily at work on it again. C[harles] and M[ary] are at Cambo; they celebrated their wedding anniversary by catching the train to Woodburn and walking back by Sweethope Lake, and enjoyed this 'immense expedition' very much.