Pièce 195 - Letter from R. C. Trevelyan to Caroline Trevelyan

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The Shiffolds. - Bessie has had 'another quite good night' and is getting on 'quite well'. Mrs Grandmont is coming next Saturday; Molly may come for a night before that. Dr C[ornish] says that 'as far as he can see the kidney trouble is quite at an end', but will 'keep analysing etc to see if he can detect anything wrong'; however, he thinks it was 'solely due to pregnancy' and has not yet revealed any further weakness.

Thanks his mother for sending him Keith's letter; thinks he has 'behaved very wisely', and neither he nor Bessie has any doubt that 'his suspicions [of Gussie Enticknap] are correct'. Is sure he will 'write tactfully to the Enticknaps'; his mother will see that he and Bessie cannot speak to them of the matter until they have heard from Keith. Expects Keith will give 'general unsatisfactoriness and untrustworthiness' as his reasons for dismissal, and they will 'have to accept that'. Bessie tends to think they will be 'sensible' and feel that Keith had ' very good reasons, which he cannot fully share with them'. They will certainly look out for work for him at once; until it is found he will have to stay here, but 'they are the last people to wish him to remain idle. They are unwise in some things, but not in that way'. Perhaps Gussie could 'go into the navy, where he would be under discipline'.

Bessie sends her love; she is 'longing to write', but thinks she should put this off for a few more days. Robert will write next tomorrow afternoon, not in the morning. Adds a postscript sending thanks to his father for his book, which has arrived; will 'write directly'.