Item 289 - Letter from R. C. Trevelyan to Sir George Trevelyan

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The Shiffolds. - Reached home last Saturday evening and found Bessie 'very well and cheerful after a happy time in Holland with Julian'. Robert had 'five very full days in Paris, with a Cambridge friend, [Gordon] Luce', now on his way back to 'Burmah after a year's leave in England'; did not have time to see all his 'old Paris friends', though saw several of them. Had a 'very pleasant time in Italy, and did a good deal of work, in spite of he weather and the mumps'. Spent the last week at the Berensons' villa [I Tatti]; they had just returned from Egypt, and were 'very full of all they had seen, both the ancient Egyptian things, and the mediaeval mosques at Cairo'.

Bessie has just written to his mother suggesting that she should visit her at Welcombe next Tuesday; hopes she 'will find Mama quite recovered by then'. They have had a 'cheerful letter from Julian', and another from Miss Fry 'saying he has begun the term quite satisfactorily'. [Goldsworthy Lowes] Dickinson is here for a few days; Bessie reads them 'Tchekof's stories in the evening'. They have now got to the 12th volume, 'which must be nearly the last. Some of them are rather slight, and evidently written as pot-boilers to keep the family going. But even these are effective and lively; and the ones he took trouble over are often first-rate'.

Has not had time to read much lately, but is 'now translating the Antigone [of Sophocles], a few lines every day. Supposes his father still has 'several more Euripides plays to look forward to'. Sends love to his mother.