Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - Glad that the hard part of the move is done; very eager to see Elizabeth and Robert's new house, terrace, and view. They are 'in an artistic atmosphere', with 'the old smell of oil-colours in the hall' since Mrs Collingwood, friend and pupil of Ruskin, has painted one of the vacant panels 'most lovelily' with sweet peas. [Edward] Keith has won a great prize for his sweet peas, so they 'are immortalised just at the right point'. Tells Robert to read the 'composite autobiography of Gibbon', put together by Miss Holroyd [relative of John Baker Holroyd, 1st Earl of Sheffield?], which is 'six times better than the six genuine ones'; almost wishes they had never appeared. Is taking a week's holiday after finishing the first two hundred pages of his new volume [of "The American Revolution"] and having 'disposed of' General Burgoyne; will show Robert two chapters and a 'most beautiful map of [his] own composition'. Will be glad to see Elizabeth and Robert here. Takes note about Stopford Brooke.. Comments in a postscript that it is his birthday today, and he turns sixty-seven.
The Shiffolds. - Julian's nurse seems to be 'better and more cheerful'. Will have to start packing soon [for his trip to India and China], as some of his luggage needs to be sent on early. An Indian poet, Rabindranath Tagore, is coming to stay tomorrow, he is 'a very interesting man.. and also the most remarkable writer of his time in India'; Bob has read 'translations of three of his plays, and a good many of his poems' and thinks them 'as good as anything anyone is doing in Europe just now'. Tagore's father [Debendranath] was 'a famous religious reformer, a sort of Stopford Brooke'. Has nearly got all his 'travelling kit' but needs to go to London once more next week. Hopes his mother and father are well; will write to his father before he sets off. [William] Rothenstein has done 'several beautiful drawings of Bessie', though only one is really like her and he will try again; he 'is not very good at getting likenesses'. Thinks Lord Pentland is going out on the same boat, to be governor of Madras.
Holly Lodge, Richmond Park, S.W. - Does not think he would be able to come to Wallington, as he has to go Scotland a few days earlier than he intended to at first. Yesterday was 'delightful': it poured with rain so he read 'all day without stopping': '"Vita Nuova", [Brooke Foss?] Westcott, Montaigne, "Sir Charles Grandison" and the life of F. W. Robertson'. Asks whether Bob has read the last: it is worth it for Robertson's letters; 'the life part, by Stopford Brooke' is 'quite well done'. Got an 1818 edition of Montaigne in five volumes at his mother's shop, 'not so nice in some was as Quaritchs', but still very nice' and is reading it with 'delight'; also got Leighton's Rabelais, which 'gave great satisfaction'. He and [Desmond] MacCarthy went to see the "Sign of the Cross" on Saturday; found it 'much more amusing than the Alhambra', which he thinks 'dealt the final blow to [his] curiosity about Music Halls'. Asks 'Am I not saucy?... (this is all exactly in the style of Harriet Byron [in "Sir Charles Grandison"]. His mother says 'she is as well as she ever was', and does seem to be, but she has also agreed 'to take care of herself' so he hopes 'all will be well'.
The Shiffolds. -- The doctor was 'so satisfied today' with Bessie's progress that he will not call tomorrow, but come again on Friday; he says 'in some ways he has never seen so quick a recovery, at least after so serious a confinement'. Aunt Annie is coming in a motor to lunch tomorrow, which Robert is very glad of, and George may come as well.
It was the 'luckiest thing that nurse Godwin could come [after Bessie went unexpectedly into labour, the child being born dead] still nurse Fry did wonderfully well when she was alone', under trying circumstances. They will probably keep her until nurse Shepherd can come (they will probably hear about this today). Is glad the weather is warmer, though it is 'horrid today'. Hopes his parents will not catch colds.
Asks if she has the Rev. Stopford Brooke's address, or whether he is 'too old now to be worth sending a circular [for Robert's latest book] to'; also that of the Rev. W. Trevelyan [William Bouverie Trevelyan?] 'You see I am angling for the clerical public'.
The Four Winds, Ewhurst, Surrey [home of Stopford Brooke]. - The weather was so bad this morning that it 'seemed useless to come over for a sitting', since the Trevelyans' rooms 'under the best circumstances only allow a limited amount of light'; asks if he can come another time. Would like best for Mrs Trevelyan to stay a weekend at his house so that he may draw her in his own studio, and asks the Trevelyans to consider it. Meant to stay at Ewhurst over the weekend, but is due at Oxford on Saturday so will leave early that morning. Was 'pleasant to get a glimpse' of Mrs Trevelyan.
Barton End House, near Nailsworth. - was secretary to Sydney Dobell; his death; she and Dobell's widow wish his great virtues to be recognised; asks if Houghton can persuade Dean Stanley or Mr. Stopford Brooke to perform burial service at HIghgate Cemetery. Dobell wished to express sympathy at Houghton's bereavement but illness made letter-writing impossible; he was never separated from his own wife. Hopes Houghton will write obituary.