Pièce 211 - Letter from Janet Trevelyan to Elizabeth Trevelyan

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Robin Ghyll, Langdale, Ambleside [on headed notepaper from the Master's Lodge, Trinity College, Cambridge]. - News about Bessie's grandson is 'really glorious'; expects that if he is dark he will be like his mother [Ursula], with 'just a general background perhaps of Trevelyan blackness'. She and George think the name 'splendid'; wonder why 'Philip' was chosen, and whether it is a 'general reminiscence' of the Philips inheritance which would 'amuse Aunt Annie'. The Trevelyans are 'doing well' for grandchildren at the moment, with Thomas Arnold [Humphry and Molly's son] and also Marjorie and Patricia's children; thinks there are currently 'a round dozen', counting Kitty's three, then Patricia's next is expected at Christmas. Thinks young mothers are very 'brave' now, to come out of hospital after only ten days, then only have a nurse for three weeks; she herself 'recovered so slowly' after Mary was born that she cannot imagine how she would have coped with the baby on her own. True that the child is 'much more neglected nowadays... popped in the pram and left to sleep out for hours in all weathers'. Thinks that 'Humphry's Molly's' two eldest 'did suffer from it' but are recovering now, though the second still has trouble with consonants at over three and a half; Janet suspects this may be 'a result of early shock from cold', and remembers having to speak privately to the doctor to 'make him speak to Molly'. She and George are spending time Robin Ghyll; have not been there together since June 1939; it is 'wonderful, as always' but though the weather in the south has been 'scorching', they have had heavy rain. George went back to Cambridge on college business a fortnight ago and brought their cook with him on his return; she is a 'nice adventurous person, and loves coming out on the fells' with them, but even George is 'content with short walks now' and they 'feel quite proud' when they walk over to take tea with Nelly Rawnsley.