Item 94 - Letter from Henry James to R. C. Trevelyan

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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.