Pièce 113 - Letter from Elizabeth Trevelyan to Caroline Trevelyan

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La Fortezza, Aulla, Lunigiana. - She and Robert are very sorry to hear of Sir George's accident [see 12/90, 11/134]; hopes that he is recovered by the time Sir George and Caroline had planned to return home. It is 'so dreary being ill in a hotel'; hopes they have 'plenty of amusing books' and wishes she were there to read to him. Neither she nor Robert knew the Villa Livia, where the accident happened, but their hosts [the Waterfields] described it and it sounds 'a most charming place'.

They are 'happily settled' here; Robert 'started working at once' and the weather has been very good. They like the surroundings more and more as they get to know it on walks. They are all very busy with their 'usual occupations' which makes life together 'very agreeable'; she practises the violin in the morning, in the afternoon they go out separately or together; after tea, when Robert is generally still out at work, they read or 'play with the 2 year old baby, a nice chubby little boy'. In the evening they read aloud; presently they are reading Hogg's Life of Percy Bysshe Shelley, which she and the Waterfields had not read before; since they are near Lerici it 'seems appropriate'.

There are 'great preparations for Christmas', as the Waterfields want to have a tree for the 'servants & contadini & the people in the town who work for them', whom they have got to know well. The people of Aulla 'seem such a contented flourishing population', with each farmer having 'their own small properties' which they work themselves and 'just manage to live comfortably'; does not think 'there is much progress, & the thing goes on from father to son' but there is 'little real poverty, or misery'. There will also be a small dance here on the 31st for the Aulla people whom the Waterfields know, with the band coming from a neighbouring village; this gives 'immense joy' and is 'very little trouble or expense'. Last autumn a similar dance was given; when the guests arrived they were told the baby was asleep and they 'all marched upstairs on tiptoe to the studio... & told each other to be quiet'.

They have also been 'much disappointed not to see Charlie's name in the new Government', as she is sure many people will be; hopes he will not 'feel it too bitterly' and is sure he will have 'a good chance soon'. Hopes Caroline will let her know soon how Sir George is doing, that she is keeping well, and that they have a 'pleasant Xmas'.