Pièce 336 - Letter from R. C. Trevelyan to Caroline Trevelyan

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Pension Palumbo, Ravello. - Will leave here next Thursday, after almost a month, to go to the Berensons at Florence for two weeks. Last week there was almost continual rain for six days; at last it is fine again today, though still cold, with 'snow upon the higher hills'. Despite the bad weather, has done 'a fair amount of work'. Forgets whether his mother has been to Ravello, or to Amalfi; calls the views of both the mountains and over the sea towards Paestum and the Apennines beyond 'very wonderful', but thinks he prefers the beauty of Tuscany and Umbria.

The Alingtons are staying in the Ruffalo palace, and come to meals here in the hotel; he is headmaster of Eton, and is 'quite pleasant and friendly', but Robert likes his wife better, 'who was Hester Lyttelton' and is now middle-aged, with six children, four girls and two boys, all here. They are a 'very jolly family, and two of the girls are quite musical' and sometimes play the hotel piano and on the violin. There is also a 'young English painter' whom Robert likes, and 'two quite pleasant Americans, an invalid and his wife', so he does 'not lack company' when he wants it.

Bessie seems well, and Julian has enjoyed his holiday and now has returned to school. Will be back at home before the end of February, and hopes to visit his mother at Welcombe 'sometime this spring'. Hopes the weather has been good, and that 'the primroses and snowdrops are coming out'. There are 'plenty of wild narcissuses among the rocks' here, and 'the wild crocuses are beginning'.