Item 124 - Letter from E. P. Arnold to Caroline Trevelyan

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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.