[1]

(83)

DOWN,

BECKENHAM, KENT

RAILWAY STATION

ORPINGTON. S.E.R.

June 25

My dear George

We have had a great deal of talk on the subject w. Horace & Ida — She thinks there is a great depth in Ellen, beneath the merriness & chattering, & that she is very affectionate — I have liked her few lines to me as shewing strong feeling.

[2]

Bessy sets out on her Chaperonage (wh. is highly needed at present as Miss Martin is ill & confined to her room & Frank says the table d'hote fixes them with its grey eye) on Wed at first it was much against the grain, but she has got more spirit for it now — & she hears from Frank that it is a lovely place —

He arrived on Thursday & Ellen met the steamer & they rattled up in an einspanner — all of which is not conventional —

We are rather on thorns till we hear that Oxford is given up— & I believe M. Foster still thinks that Fr. had better stick to Cambridge even in a worldly point of view — It wd certainly be a great sacrifice for B. & me to leave Cambridge & you all & the Grove ─

Bernard is taking greatly to cricket & sketching

[3]

[repeat of 2r]

[4]

& I have given him a solid sketch book, wh. delights him — He is also devoted to Cricket whenever he can get Jackson & I think he promises well. His life wd be very different w. a small garden at Oxford — The weather is quite lovely & the air so sweet w. seringa —

Leo. comes on Sat. (without Eliz. who will be on her way to Marseilles to meet Mrs Fraser) I like her for going as [from p. 1:] Major Fraser quite let her off — I hope you will be able to give him the meeting —

yours my dear ED ─

[insertion:] [Thomas Richard] Fraser is her [Eliz refers to Elizabeth Frances (Bee)] brother Adj Gen I think to army in Eygpt