The Grove, Harrow on the Hill. - Will not write to his father or mother today; Robert can tell them anything they want from this letter. Has three photographs from Hills & Saunders, and has given one to Tom [Macaulay Booth?] and one to Moss; Moss has 'already made himself popular in the house' with 'several common-sense reforms which Crooker [J. A. Cruikshank?] was too old to see'. Stow [?] says [Arthur] Bentinck gets along but is 'too retiring'; does not know anything about the new backs yet; Gilmore has grown a beard; has seen Hicks in chapel but nowhere else. Discussion of various reforms; thinks Robert will approve of the replacement of the Greek Test[ament] by Old Test[ament] history from the English Bible. Was surprised to get his remove; there were not many; sits with [Gordon William] Stow at the separate desk for two on Welldon's left and 'swot[s] with [Frank?] Elliott', who has Robert's old room; George may have it next term or soon, as Clive, Booth and Elliott are all leaving, probably also Farquhar, though George does not think 'Mo will let them all go'. The house is much changed this term, he himself is one of the large number of people who 'seem to be much more important', and he thinks he will enjoy the year very much. Sandilands is a 'capital head'; he and Arne [?] are going to join the Corps, but Tom is not. Explains in detail how he comes to be sharing a room with [Arthur Langford] Tregoning; Tregoning does what George likes, and 'does not make himself at all objectionable', but George will 'be most heartily sick of him by the end of the term'. El[liot] is leaving for India in the first week of the holiday; he will 'wander about the country with a tutor' and thinks he will do 'a lot of swot there'; George told him he will not do any at all. Tom [Booth?] is going to try to spend a year or two at Trinity before entering business. A Rothschild [Nathaniel Charles] has joined the house this term, but he 'has to conform, and will be allowed to eat the breakfast cold ham... one of the advantages of Xtianity'. Discusses [rugby] 'footer' and various members of the team; the '"sporting element"' is completely suppressed', with Lefroy 'quite a fish out of water'. Young Sandilands also encountered Haddock at the Balmoral a year or so ago.
The Grove, Harrow. - Had a pleasant week at Wallington; spent the night with Aunt Annie [Philips] on Tuesday, and saw Miss Martin before he came back. Found Sophie [Wicksteed?] 'much more cheerful and talkative' than expected. Gives results of a battle between his and Robert's toy soldiers. Lady Frederick Cavendish will be at Wallington by now. Few people have left school this term, though of those several are from Grove House. Clive has failed his Sandhurst exam and returned: a 'pleasant surprise'. The 'finds' [room sharing] have been arranged 'very satisfactorily': he, Tregoning and Farquhar are in Tregoning's room - the library -in the morning, and he and Farquhar in his own room for tea. Has to read prayers now. Complains [in capital letters] about the changes initiated because of Welldon's 'terrible funk of the influenza' until the weather improved: no 'first school', only one half holiday a week, and they all have to wear sweaters to go 'down to footer in'; hopes they 'all get the influenza and die of it to pay Welldon out'. Pencil annotation at top of letter, perhaps by Robert Trevelyan, says that 'Spider and Spot' are alright; took Spider back to Mrs Webster; Webster is recovering slowly after a relapse.