Pièce 251 - Letter from R. C. Trevelyan to Caroline Trevelyan

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Apartado 847, Madrid, Spain. - Thanks his mother for her letter, which reached him yesterday. Will probably stay in Madrid and not go on elsewhere, though may make a day trip to Toledo and Segovia. Is presently staying with [Oswald] Sickert, but soon will move into rooms at a pension, as Sickert's wife is coming. So far the weather has been 'beautiful' and not too cold, but he expects this will soon change'. Madrid is mostly a modern town, but there are 'some charming 18th century parts, and also pleasant parks'. Gets on 'fairly well with reading Spanish, but can't talk it much'.

Has only been twice to the Prado; Velasquez and Goya interest him most of the Spanish painters, but there are also some 'fine Titians, and other Italians'. Has made friends with 'several young men, friends of Sickert, journalists and literary men' who are 'very pleasant and easy to get on with, and speak either French or English'. Spain as a country is 'rather disturbed', and he does not think he will go to Malaga, where there is currently a general strike; expects he will stay in Madrid for a few weeks before returning home.

Bessie and Julian seem well; Bessie will have told his mother her plans of 'keeping him at home, and getting someone to teach him this winter'. Hopes his father has recovered from his fall, and that Hearn [the butler] is better. Will write to his father soon. When the weather is fine, he goes 'out by tram... to work in a park outside the town'; today it is raining, but this won't go on long. Confirms that 'plays never begin here before 10.15 or 10.30, and people get up here at 11 or 12, and don't take siestas'.