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[Gerard Craig?] Sellar came back yesterday. He, [D.R. or W.H.?] Napier, Bright, and Van de vi [Veen?] Porter have been to tea with Mrs Haines; they played in the hayfield before tea, and rounders afterwards. The masters have won a match against the 'big game and the eleven'. The 'grandsons of Runjeetsing [Maharaja Ranjit Singh, ie, the children of Duleep Singh?] were here once'. Some Eton boys who had been at Wixenford came last week and played [cricket] against the eleven last week.

[on headed notepaper for 40 Ennismore Gardens]. Asks his mother for the 'adress for next hols [sic]' as he wants to give it to some of his schoolfellows. The boys 'leaving for good' are Weston, Browning, Van de Weyer, 'the two Douglases' [including Lord Alfred Douglas], Sackville West ma[jor] and Sellar. Booth has 'got the lower shying compete [sic]', and Weston the upper; the swimming is not finished. Saw a 'walking bear walking about Eversley, with two Pyrenees men'. The school was 'trashed' 19-136 by Flamborough. Would like to do some history and geography in the holidays.

[on headed notepaper for 40 Ennismore Gardens]. Forgot to say that Sellar wrote to Robert at Wallington and thanked him for the book; he 'seemed to like it very much'. He 'got lower middle fourth at Eton which was good for him'; thinks Van de Weyer 'got in bottom of Eton which was very good for him'. A boy called Smith is 'very anxious to have a photograph' of Robert's father; Robert asks his mother to send one if one can be spared. Has 'got a new sort of caterpillar', which he cannot identify. They are studying Ovid and the fifth and sixth books of Caesar. Is in the first [form] for arithmetic and classics; has begun algebra and likes it 'very much'. Adds a postscript saying he has 'not got the paper of the procession'.

Chief Secretary's Lodge, Phoenix Park, Dublin. - Is leaving early tomorrow to go to Welcombe; Bob's father is staying until Wednesday night. Has been very busy packing; the 'soldier boxes' will travel in the carriage. Charlie has written in 'very good spirits': he received good marks for his 'holiday task'. Hopes no more boys have got ring-worm, and asks whether the doctor has been to examine them. He must have had some days with good weather for football; asks if he will soon 'go into the big game'. They hope that some of the [Phoenix Park] murderers have been caught, and will be convicted. Hopes Bob gets on well with [Gerard Henry Craig] Sellar and Alexander. Georgie is very well; he is coming to Welcombe on Tuesday. Bob's father sends his love.

Thanks his mother for her letter. Is not yet allowed to go out, but his 'cough is much better'. The boys in his class, 'in order beginning at the top', are Smith, Archie, Browning, Robert himself, Sellar and Lawrence. Has begun studying Caesar and likes it 'very much'; is 'getting on very well in Greek'. Has finished [reading] Winning his Spurs and almost The Young Franc Tireurs [both by G. A. Henty] so will 'soon want another book'. His bedroom at school is shared with the same boys as before: Sellar and Alexander. Alexander says he knows 'a family called the Hol[l]ands very well, with a Meta in them' [like Robert's cousin Meta]; Robert asks his mother to find out if it is the same family. He also asks her to tell Charlie that he will write to him soon, and to thank him for the stamps and letters, 'some of the stamps are rather rare'. Sends love to all. Adds a picture of a townhouse [his family's London home?] below his signature.

Decorated with stickers of flowers, a bird, a lighthouse, and two gentlemen walking. Robert writes that he is 'very well and happy', and hopes that his family all are too. The school has had a 'magic lantern [show]', which was a 'very good one'. Has changed into Sellar and Booth's room. Sellar is captain. They 'played [a] big game' and Robert got a goal. Asks if his mother can send some stamps.

Asks his mother if 'the duplicate stamp book' is at home, and for her to send it if so. Mr Arnold's leg is 'rather bad, but is better now'. Sellar has given Robert his photograph; Robert asks his mother to put it in his 'photograph book in Ireland'. Has answered 'Uncle Harry'[Henry Holland]s note' . Bright 'is not coming back'. Sends love to all.

Thanks his mother for her letter; he is 'very happy'. It is a 'very windy and wet day today' and they cannot go to church. Sellar has come back to school, but Law has not yet. Asks his mother if she can send him some stamps, since there were none in his case. Sends love to all. They 'played football on Saturday morning because it was too cold [to play cricket?].

Robert's 'knee is all right now'. Sends love to all. Mr Viner found 'a rabbit in a trap in the drive' today, which he let go; he 'also caught a mouse'. This morning it rained, so the boys could not go to church, but they were able to go for a walk before dinner. Thinks it will rain again soon. Adds a postscript to say that 'Sellar's aunt came to see him last Friday', and gives the date in Latin: 'A[nte] D[iem] quartum Nonas Decembres' [ie 2 December].

Wixenford, Eversley, Winchfield:- Knows she will forgive him for putting off replying to her letter of 19th September, and thanks her for this. Bobbie 'is very much grown; he looks pale at time', but Arnold thinks he has 'gained in tone' since returning to school, and sees 'from his work in the gymnasium that he is strong and healthy'. The 'childishness' which Mrs Trevelyan noticed in him in the holidays is the aspect which 'needs most reform and which must stand in his way till it is cured'; he has 'decidedly improved' so far this term, and Arnold hopes that 'now he is becoming one of the big boys in the school' this will continue. As Sellar has left the school, Arnold has had to choose a new boy for Bobbie's bedroom; has chosen Tom Booth since 'Bobbie liked to have him' and Arnold thought it would be good for him to have 'the responsibility of being "head of the room"'. The other boys in the room are Hugo Law 'who is doing very well' and 'a son of Colonel [T. H.] Lewin (connected with the late historian Grote)'.

Is teaching Bobbie himself 'for a good many hours' - half of both his Greek and Latin lessons - and he 'seems to be making a good start'; hopes Bobbie will soon 'do something worthy of being sent to his Father'. Gerard Sellar 'seems to be settling down comfortably at Eton', where he 'took a very fair place - not high of course', but Arnold thinks he is 'sure to get on'. Sellar 'writes very nice intelligent letters about his first experiences' and is 'becoming happy' there.

Wixenford, Eversley, Winchfield:- The result of Bobbie's work this term is 'on the whole decidedly satisfactory', as Trevelyan will see from the enclosed report and list of examinations passed this term. Bobbie has 'pretty nearly kept pace with the scheme' which Arnold sent a few weeks ago detailing 'what we hoped he w[oul]d accomplish term by term'. He is 'anxious to do some work in the holidays', so Arnold has put down what he thinks will 'help him most', in case Trevelyan agrees Bobbie should do some work and can find time to 'give him a little help'.

Arnold has lent Bobbie a copy of the first book of [Xenophon's] Anabasis, which he should 'now find well within his power', and recommends letting him 'translate about 12 lines daily on paper, as far as possible against time'. He 'still requires drill in the verbs in μι', but will 'get that next term at school if it cannot be managed in the holidays. Arnold has also lent Bobbie 'a little book of Latin Exercises' from which he could do 'about 8 sentences' a day; Bobbie's form-master Mr Evans has offered to check these exercises if they are sent by post, and would also correct the Xenophon if required. Evans will be with Mr Sellar at Ardtornish House, Oban, 'helping Gerard with his work previous to going to Eton next half'. Arnold send [his and his wife's] 'united kind regards', and wishes the Trevelyans 'a most happy holiday'.

Wixenford, Eversley, Winchfield:- Bobby 'arrived this morning, looking very well'. Is glad Bobby was happy with his 'new bed-room companions'; thinks Trevelyan will know that one, 'little Tom Booth', has been kept away from school this term with ringworm. In his place Arnold has put 'a little new boy called Alexander', with whom he thinks Bobby will also be happy; Gerard Sellar will remain in the room. Alexander is the 'cousin of the boy who was recently with us and came through Mr R. Palgrave; he seems a very nice little boy'. Unfortunately, has heard from Mr Booth that Tom 'is not yet much better': this is 'most distressing' as the 'malady is proved to have had its origins here', with four other boys from the school ill with it at home, two slightly and two 'rather badly'. They blame themselves for 'having allowed the common use of brushes'; there were nine brushes, washed weekly, so he thought there was no danger; new arrangements have now 'of course' been made, and they have tried to 'correct any flaw'. They are unsure how the infection reached the school; 'none of the common children in the village are known to have had it', and each member of their household, 'including servants', have been examined by a doctor without any light being shed on the matter.

Trusts they 'now know the worst of the trouble, as all the boys here have been passed by a doctor'; he intends for the whole school to be examined again in a few days. Is 'ashamed to trouble [Mr Trevelyan] in such a matter', but feels that he and Mrs Trevelyan 'would wish to know the worst', and that the school are doing all they can to prevent 'the mischief' from spreading or recurring.

(Marked 'Private' at top of letter; also another note which has been crossed through). Wixenford, Eversley, Winchfield:- Says that he thinks Gerard Sellar and Tom Booth will be 'nice companions for Bobbie'; on receipt of her letter, has arranged that they should share a three-bedded room. Is 'very much indeed concerned to hear of some serious mis-conduct in two boys' whom he 'thought incapable of anything worse than disorderly conduct' and grateful to her for bringing it to his notice. Takes 'great pains to arrange the bed-rooms' as it is the 'best way to secure the boys' happiness & well-being', and knew of 'nothing amiss in Bobbie's old room', not having heard of any 'breach of order or irregularity'. Has hesitated to write asking her to write again, but is sure he will understand his concerns for the other boys and anxiety to hear if there is 'anything wrong that [he is] unaware of and can set right'; will regard whatever she tells him as private and, even if he has to inform the boys concerned of some part of it, will not reveal how he got the information.

Wixenford, Eversley. - Not worth while sending the 'usual formal Report of Bobbie's work', but thinks his mother will be glad to hear about his health and progress; the school will break up on 1 August. Bobbie now 'looks in perfect health', as Mr Sellar [Alexander Craig Sellar, father of Bobbie's schoolfellow Gerard?] will testify. He did two hours a day less work than usual when he first returned, is now only missing one hour, and Arnold hopes that by next week he will be doing the same as the other boys. Cannot yet give a 'decided opinion' on Bobbie's work: he is obviously 'a remarkably sensible boy' and will be 'easy to interest in anything worth learning'; he seemed 'slow and unmethodical' at first but has been much quicker in the last couple of days and when 'completely settled' should do even better. Seems to have covered 'a good deal of ground superficially' rather than having 'accurate knowledge' of any of his work, but 'one is liable to forget the fewness of his years in contemplating the multitude of his inches' so Arnold does not yet think he has fathomed his 'mental powers yet'. He is currently behind the third class, and in Latin will have to work temporarily in the one below; will bear in mind Mr Trevelyan's wish and not keep him back 'a day longer than necessary'. He is 'remarkably docile', 'cheerful and bright' over both work and play. Discusses his work and class placement in History, Geography and Arithmetic. He enjoys cricket and 'plays heartily', but seems particularly keen on his butterflies; thinks he is happy and will soon have many friends at school.

Heard from Mr Sellar that Mr Trevelyan was looking 'tired'; sends sympathy for his 'gigantic task' [as Secretary of State for Ireland]. Notes in a postscript that Bobbie does French with him; as with other subjects, he thinks he will soon do well, but currently has 'very little accurate knowledge'. Bobbie got his letters from his parents today and sends 'special thanks' to his father for writing'.