Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Robert's letter has brought 'a breath of Italy'; wishes he could be there; asks to be remembered kindly to Robert's hosts and wishes he could see Berenson's library. Books now his 'medium for everything': foreign countries, past times, 'vanished friends and opponents'. Has now read the elegiac and iambic fragments in Bergk, and will go on to read the '"Melic poets" as one reads Keats and Shelley'. Has also finished Plautus's "Casina"; a great coincidence 'utterly unimportant in itself' like all great coincidences, that the last time he did so, in 1916, Morton and Kate Philips came to stay as they are doing tonight for the first time since then. Is reading Robert's Tchernov [sic: Chekhov] and thinks the stories may give even 'more vivid and real' a picture of Russian life than Turgenev and Tolstoy, while being 'far less repulsive' than Dostoevsky; though he does not approve of the 'sordid little pictures of conjugal infidelity', which is better done in many French novels and he is 'many years too old for it in any language'.
On headed notepaper for Welcombe, Stratford on Avon:- Thanks his mother for her letter. Grandpapa is 'still quite well', though 'he does not get up to breakfast and is sometimes a little tired at night'; he goes out in his chair and 'gets about the house very well'. Robert is going to start whist tomorrow, and Sophie is 'going to take [him] in hand'. He is well, doing dumb-bells and the other things he had to remember. Will go to church at 'the small chapel' at three this afternoon. Sophie and Aunt Annie are well. Does not know what he will do if he does 'not get the collars soon', as he only has 'two stick-ups here'; supposes he will 'have to wear the turn-downs'. Hopes Charlie gets one of the prizes, or 'it will be very disappointing for him, after so much hard work'.
Robert is taking his medicine. Grandpapa 'sometimes talks toryism, but not very much'. The Morton Philipses left yesterday; Grandpapa gave Kate Morton Philips a ring 'which delighted her very much'.
On headed notepaper for Welcombe, Stratford on Avon:- Arrived safely yesterday after a 'very nice journey', by himself for most of the way. Saw a Harrow boy whom he knew a little at Paddington, who 'had come up for a funeral'. Robert found his grandfather [Philips] 'much better than [he] had expected', and he is also well today; he 'goes out twice a day in his chair'. He, Aunt Annie, and Sophie [Wicksteed] do not 'seem at all low, though of course he is not at all well yet'.
Likes Morton Philips and his wife very much; went out for a drive with them and Aunt Annie this afternoon, and walked back home from Snitterfield with Morton Philips. Aunt Annie said he had better not write yesterday, as he meant to, since she herself was writing. The 'country is very nice and the weather very fine'. Hopes she and his father are well.
Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Glad to hear that Elizabeth is well and that Robert is losing his cold; hopes the Booths [Charles and Meg] arrive safely. Sir George has been troubled by rheumatism for a while; thinks he is recovering but he is 'low & out of sorts'; he has been able to work and take walks everyday, not liking to stay in bed which she thinks may have been best. S[idney] Colvin and Morton Philips are coming on Sunday, alone as both their wives are ill; they have also had neighbours visiting for tea. Has been busy with things in the village; Mr Clarke was here this week. They are expecting news from Cheyne Gardens [of the birth of Janet and George's child]; the preparations were made long ago. The ["Independent] review" is 'in a bad way' but George 'has made up his mind to it'. Meggy [Price] has sent her a very amusing letter from Phil [Morgan Philips Price], who 'led the interruptions' at [Henry] Chaplin's meeting at Cambridge in 'a most intelligent & effective way'. Sir George enjoyed Robert's letter about classics and 'keeps it as a marker!'; sends love from him and Booa [Mary Prestwich], who was 'quite anxious' about Elizabeth.