Lamb House, Rye, Sussex. - Recently shared in 'poor dear Jonathan [Sturges]'s good wishes' to Trevelyan but now he assures him and his wife of his 'still tenderer interest and sympathy' [after the death of their new-born daughter Susan]. Spent that day with their 'poor undaunted little friend [Sturges]' in surroundings which were a 'blest... escape from that dreary prison house of Wimpole Street [a nursing home]'. Sturges's 'inseparable (&... most valuable) nurse is with him', and he has 'charming rooms' with a big balcony overlooking the sea at Eastbourne; seems 'really to be getting on...' despite the lack of society. Will go again soon, but cannot do so often as the journey takes so long; whenever he does see Sturges, the sense is always the same of 'the hard little consistency of his personality - unique little pathetic wasted demon that he is!'. Thinks with great pleasure of their few days at Welcombe at Whitsuntide, and their talks with John [Cann?] Bailey; must meet again. Wonders if the Trevelyans are discussing the 'Luard tragedy'; they do 'nothing else' in Rye; it is a 'rounded "Greek" perfection of horror or darkness'. Acknowledges that the Trevelyans have enough cares of their own.
4 Onslow Gardens. - Has only just read "The Bride of Dionysus", which George gave him, and found it 'delightful'. Had been reading the two odes about Theseus by Bacchylides the day before, inspired by a remark by 'W.P.K.' [William Paton Ker] in his "Art of Poetry", and so was pleased by the reminiscences of them in Bob's poem. It is an 'exercise', but the kind which can 'come from a poet'; wishes there were more like it. Finds Phaedra a little undeveloped as a character, but Theseus, Ariadne, Minos and Dionysus are 'great figures'. Has just received the Oxford Calendar with the news of his own nomination for the Chair of Poetry, but [H. W.] Garrod will be appointed since he will get the 'local vote'; when he reads Ker, [Walter] Raleigh and [A.C.] Bradley it is 'almost (not quite!) a delight to think [his] chances are very small!'. Adds a postscript saying that he sees that George is lecturing at Oxford.
La Croix. - Thanks his mother for her letter; is 'very glad to hear' that Paul is 'rather better since he came to London'; is sure it was wise to consult Dr Eustace Smith too, and is 'glad he was on the whole reassuring'. Expects Bessie and Paul are at Broadstairs by now. Will start back to England on either Monday or Tuesday, arriving in London around 5 pm the next day; expects he will go straight to the Shiffolds that night, before going to Broadstairs via London the next day. Will try to see his mother in London then, which will either be Wednesday or Thursday. Bessie 'writes quite cheerfully now': Robert thinks she 'must be less anxious'.
Is 'sorry the Cacciola will is such a trouble to everyone': would 'gladly give the whole thing up and let whoever came next settle it as best they could', if it only depended on him, but thinks this would make it necessary for George to give up Hallington, which Robert 'would be very sorry for'. Is sure his father will 'decide for the best'.
Sees that Barran is candidate 'for the Border Boroughs [Hawick Burghs]' and hopes he gets in: thinks he would 'make a fairly good conscientious sort of MP', though does not believe he is a 'really able man'. Has not yet heard 'whether Bowles is in'. There was a snow-storm here a week ago and there is still some snow on the ground; last night there was a thunderstorm, but today the weather is fine and not as cold. Was 'very pleased with the Times review [of his new book Sisyphus: An Operative Fable?]'; hears it was not by [John Cann] Bailey, as he had thought, so is not sure of the author - perhaps Bruce Richmond, as it 'did not read like Clutton-Brock'.
Is glad his father is well; fears they have been having 'even worse weather' than he has here.