Pièce 200 - Letter from Janet Trevelyan to Elizabeth Trevelyan

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Pen Rose, Berkhamsted. - Calls Bessie a 'jolly wicked old thing' and says her letter made her laugh aloud. She was indeed 'movin' in the very 'ighest circles on Wednesday, velvet 'at and all' [at an event for the Evening Play Centres Fund]; says her attempt to curtsey to H.R.H. [Mary, Princess Royal] was a 'lamentable failure', as was her attempt to keep calling her 'Y.R.H'. The 'children's part of the show was really jolly', and as Bessie says these things have to be done 'to keep one's nose in front''; the 'City paid up like anything' after last year's show, when Janet 'only had a President of the B[oard] of E[ducation: Edward Wood]' but have not been so eager to contribute this time; they claim they fear 'the watchful eye of Mr Snowden [Chancellor of the Exchequer]' though 'all the knowing ones know' there is nothing to fear yet. Has had a 'Marconigram' from George; he is staying with President [Abbott Lawrence] Lovell at Harvard instead of at a club; '[j]olly for him to arrive in the middle of the oil [Teapot Dome] scandals!'; he is giving seven lectures and will earn 'quite a handsome sum', which will be useful with Mary at Somerville. She is 'radiantly happy there' and discovering 'all kinds of things, not [emphasised] all connected with Political Economy; she is working harder this term for her 'Pass Mods'; her first term was a 'mere whirl of delight'; they will then take a fortnight's holidays near Woody Bay in Devon. Humphry has a motor-bike, and sometimes takes 'rapturous rides on it on Sundays', but he does not ride it to school. Glad Julian is 'really happy at Bedale's'; hopes he will stop growing soon. Would love to lunch with Bessie in London at some point.