Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Holland must be beautiful; sure it is just the change Robert and Elizabeth need [after the death of their son Paul]. Appreciates the action taken by the Six family [agreeing not to sell any of their art collection out of the country, and to make it available to the public, in return for exemption from inheritance taxes]. Wonders what Vermeer's "Cook" ["The Milkmaid"] is like; worth going to the Netherlands to see that and his picture in the Mauritshuis. He and Caroline are reading the fifth volume of Ferrero ["The Republic of Augustus"] with delight; thinks it even better than the earlier volumes; it has got him to read Suetonius's life of Octavius [Augustus] and is inclined to read the others. They expect a Liberal candidate [for Stratford] to be announced tomorrow, to 'give a real lesson to Kincaid Smith' who otherwise might get some Liberal votes. Sends best wishes to Professor [Ambrosius] Hubrecht if Robert and Elizabeth send them again.
Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Hopes that Robert and Elizabeth are 'getting on with their preparations for going abroad', as it will do them good to be away from home for a while [after the death of their son Paul]. She and Sir George are 'better for the quiet' at Welcombe; they talk often about Paul, and Sir George says he often dreams of him, and of Robert as a small child. Thinks this has brought them 'all nearer together': perhaps the worst thing is knowing how unhappy Robert and Elizabeth are. Thinks she has never expressed to Robert all she feels for him, bur is sure he knows she understands his trouble, and how thankful she would be if she could comfort him. Took a long drive yesterday, and discovered Preston on Stour, a 'curious old village'. Buxton's book about Turkey ["Turkey in Revolution"?] is 'certainly amusing'; she also has the new Carlyle letters to read, though Sir George is 'rather averse to them', thinking 'the controversy should be allowed to die out'. He is reading Fererro to her, and translating parts of Suetonius 'which are most amusing'. Hopes Robert found some good books to take abroad at the London Library. Sends love to Elizabeth, and asks him to let her know how she is.
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Pleased by the prospect of Julian coming with them to Welcombe. Caroline is certainly better, but it is a 'long test of patience' and they will not leave till next week at least. Glad Robert is 'getting on well with Constable [over the publication of the Annual of New Poetry, see 46/222]'. Has been reading several of Cicero's speeches, and is now re-reading Suetonius. Has read the first six books of the Iliad, and will make Homer his 'staple' until it is finished, punctuating him with Suetonius and Caesar. A second sheet asks whether Robert and Elizabeth take the "[Times] Literary Supplement", and if not whether they would like first claim on his copy [this is Welcombe notepaper so may not belong with this letter].
Trinity [College, Cambridge]. - Thanks Marsh for the ticket; would be delighted to come to dinner on Monday. Has sent [Robert Erskine?] Childers his gloves; on going to Marsh's room to get them, he found 'the Bedder and the Help feasting on bread and marmalade and tea. They were very apologetic', though he does not see why. Asks if Marsh can come to see 'Mrs Tancray' [Arthur Wing Pinero's "The Second Mrs Tanqueray", first performed on 27 May 1893] on Wednesday or Saturday. Notes in a postscript that 'it is a case of "Vae, puto, deus fio" [Vespasian's last words, according to Suetonius]"
Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Thanks Robert for news of Julian [see 46/263]; good to hear of 'his town-planning, and writing the Records of his community' [the imaginary town of Hurtenham]. At Julian's age, he himself wrote 'a most elaborate, and carefully studied "Invasion of England" by the French in 1849, due to 'differences of opinion about Garibaldi and Rome'; these things are 'the essence of education'. Snowdrops beautiful. Read the death of Pentheus [in Euripides' "Bacchae"] yesterday, and soon will return to that of Nero in Suetonius. Asks to be remembered to Robert's host in Edinburgh [Donald Tovey].
Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Likes writing to Settignano; sends his regards to Robert's host [Bernard Berenson]. Is grateful for the photograph of Aulla [home of Robert's friends the Waterfields]; has tried to get a sense of it by comparing photograph and letter, but will have to ask Elizabeth for further help when she comes tomorrow; hopes she has recovered from her bad cold. He and Caroline are quite well, but he is 'very perceptibly weaker every month or so', though he can still get household and financial business done, and enjoys his Greek and Latin reading 'at least as much as ever'; has now finished re-reading Tacitus, Herodotus, and the first half of Thucydides, which he intends now to finish alongside Xenophon's "Hellenica" and some Suetonius; praises Suetonius's biographies of Augustus and Julius Caesar.