Pièce 171 - Letter from R. C. Trevelyan to Caroline Trevelyan

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The Shiffolds, Holmbury St. Mary, Dorking. - Thanks his parents for their letters; will write to his father soon, but today is 'really writing... for Bessie, who is very busy': she has to look after Julian 'a good deal now', since the nurse has had a 'bad cold, and is rather upset'; it is not 'the same thing as last time' and they hope not as bad, but she is 'not at all well, and it is very discouraging'. The doctor has seen her and will come again in a few days. Bessie takes Julian out in the pram, as the nurse is 'really not well enough to go out in this damp weather'; they may have to 'think seriously whether she will be able to go on through the winter', but that is not an immediate concern. The nurse is 'quite nice about it herself, and tries not to be depressed' though Robert fears she is not successful. Luckily Julian is 'very well'. Sure Bessie will write herself soon.

They read his father and Charles' speeches 'in a paper Gussie sent to his mother [Gussie Enticknap, son of Robert and Bessie's housekeeper, currently working as a gardener's boy for Sir George and Caroline at Wallington]. They seemed very good'. [Donald] Tovey came last Monday; he has been 'rather unwell', so has not yet done much work, but seems to be 'getting under way now'. His 'fellow composer' Ralph Vaughan Williams is coming over from Leith Hill Place this evening'.

Has a better ending for his short poem, which she can add if she likes: gives three lines to read ('I shiver in the chilling wind: the clouds whiten...') instead of the last two she has; it may not be quite right yet, but thinks this is an improvement.