Pièce 30 - Letter from Kenneth Cross to R.C. Trevelyan

1 letter

Greville House, Little Baddow, Chelmsford. - Very kind of Bob to send his poems "From the Shiffolds". Heard from Kim that Philip Erasmus [Bob's grandson] has 'joined us all in this sorry place'; sends best wishes to Bessie and the whole family. Enjoyed "Windfalls" so much that he bought two copies, one to give away; thinks Bob may have found it hard to show himself 'so frankly to the world', but it is 'beautifully done' and Cross is glad he wrote it. Apologises for not writing before, but 'what is there to say? When will this horror end?' Hopes Bob has not got 'too depressed'; thinks work is 'the best sedative'. Has been quite busy himself with 'nebulous schemes which are unlikely to mature', and 'repair of damaged buildings', which are 'depressing'. Hopes the Trevelyans have had nothing to disturb the Shiffolds; he had a 'near miss' once, and the house is 'frequently shaken', with tiles lost and doors and windows broken, but nothing serious has happened so far. Has just finished '"Social England" by the Master of Trinity' [George Macaulay Trevelyan's "English Social History"]: it 'just suited [his] mood' and he 'had difficulty putting it down'; has also read the 'small book on Trinity' ["Trinity College: An Historical Sketch"]: 'Tradition still has humble admirers'. Comments on 'How miserable Goldie [Dickinson] would have been and Francis [Birrell] too'. Can still see Bob 'charging the barrier at a French railway station - successfully of course'.