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West Hackhurst. - Was just about to write, to say that a cousin is unexpectedly coming on Monday so he cannot visit her then, when he got her letter. Is very sorry and fears the visit must now be put off till after Christmas: 'on the Tuesday there are the grubby soldiers, and on the Wednesday a broadcast about Julius Caesar'. Had wanted to consult Bob about the broadcast, but now cannot. Will write again with a new suggested day to visit, meanwhile he and his mother send 'affectionate greetings'.

Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Glad that Bessie is really better for her time at Arnside. Effect of the thunderstorms very localised; Charles has described a 'most extraordinary flood which devastated the tunnel under the road in the London Zoo'. Wonders why Sophocles called his 'Satyric drama the "Ichneutae"'. Is just reading the "Bellum Alexandrinum" with 'great admiration'; believes it was written by Oppius, not Hirtius, 'on the rough draft of Caesar's "Bellum Civile"' which he did not live to finish. Macaulay told him the "[Battle of Lake] Regillus" was his favourite of his "Lays [of Ancient Rome]," as he 'had Homer always in mind'; Sir George turned a passage from it into Greek hexameters for his 'Monitor's Greeks' [at Harrow]; they are a 'sort of cento of Homer' and Vaughan told him to write them in the book but he did not, as he did not think them good enough. The pages were left blank; Butler later invited him and 'shut [him] up in his study to write them out', so they are there now, though there are still a blank pages for the letter in imitation of Cicero which he would not write out. Glad to remember that he did not 'over rate his own performance'.

Last part of letter written on a notice from Drummonds Bank that Sir George's account has received some money from the Charity Commissioners.

The Shiffolds, Holmbury St. Mary, Dorking. - They are 'in the interval between two governesses, so Bessie is rather busy looking after Julian'. They are glad Miss Barthorpe will probably return next winter, as she suited them very well; the new governess, Miss Colley, comes on Monday.

The [Apostles] Dinner last week went 'very well'; thinks twenty-two people attended. MacCarthy was 'very successful as President'. Had to speak at the end as President for next year; will be 'somewhat of a responsibility, especially in these days' Sophocles' Ichneutae [see 12/272] is on the subject of the Homeric Hymn to Hermes; the Chorus are the Satyrs 'tracking' the thief of Apollo's lost oxen. Has never read the Bellum Alexandrinum, 'nor indeed any of Caesar since... Cambridge'. Note on [Aulus] Hirtius. Is reading some Greek history with Julian, 'chiefly about Croesus and Cyrus at present, but it will come to the real Greeks soon'.

Their strawberries have finished, but their raspberries 'are coming on'; they will be able to make some jam, though they have not got all the sugar they wanted. The bilberries on Leith Hill are also 'at their best'.

Hopes his father 'will go out' as then he will 'have some proper holidays'. Is getting on very well, as is G[eorgie]. There is to be a home match against Hartley Row next Wednesday. Is sending the [school news] paper, which is now printed 'instead of Cyclostyled', thinks this 'is a great improvement, though of course opinions may differ'. They have now begun studying Horace; thinks it is 'a good deal nicer that Caesar, or even than Virgil'. Hopes his father 'and Grandpapa are both quite well now'; comments on the 'fun we shall have in the hols'. Lawrence has given him the [birthday?] 'present of a very nice book'.