Item 159 - Letter from R. C. Trevelyan to Caroline Trevelyan

The Shiffolds, Holmbury St. Mary, Dorking. - She will already have had an account of Dr Hutchison's visit, which was 'in the main reassuring', from Molly. He and Bessie are 'naturally still anxious' [about their baby], and there is 'of course a very real risk of its being malignant jaundice'; however, it seems more likely to be ordinary jaundice, which 'is not as a rule dangerous'. Bessie is 'more cheerful' since Dr Hutchison came, and 'fairly comfortable'; the baby 'so far seems no worse', and every day passing will make it 'less likely to be the bad kind of jaundice'. The ordinary variety 'may last some weeks', so they must be prepared. Molly is leaving on Friday but returns early on Saturday; she is 'the best person to be here under the circumstances'. His mother at least must not come yet, as there is 'every reason to hope' she will be able to see the baby soon in good health: he 'otherwise seems strong and healthy enough'. She 'must not worry' about Bessie, as he thinks that 'even if the worst happened' he thinks she would 'now be prepared to bear it' - he hopes, however, that this is not likely. Asks her to thank his father for his 'very kind letter'. One of them will write 'in each post'.

Adds a postscript on 'Thursday morning' [24 Feb] saying that 'the child has had a fair night, and seems better'; this is good news but they 'cannot be sure for several days yet' that it is 'ordinary jaundice'. Bessie also had a 'fair night, and is going on all right'.