I arrived last night from Cowes. I found Mrs Housman, Lady Jarvis,
George and Godfrey.
George is very much better, but he is still weak and can't get about
much. He is not allowed to play golf yet. He sits in the garden, and goes
for a mild walk once a day. Lady Jarvis says that Mrs Housman is very
unhappy. In the first place, her home is intolerable. Mrs Fairburn makes
London quite impossible for her. It is a wonder that she is not here,
but as Housman is in London there is nothing to be surprised at. In the
second place, Lady Jarvis thinks that Mrs Housman would much rather
George hadn't come, but she couldn't help it as Housman asked him.
We do things mostly altogether now. I am staying a fortnight, then I go
to Worsel for a week and to Edith's till the end of September; then
London. Lady Jarvis says that she is sure Mrs Housman will not spend the
winter in London.
Write to me here and tell me about the Mont Dore. I have been there once
and think it is an appalling place.
Yrs.
G.
_From the Diary of Godfrey Mellor_
_Wednesday, August_ 10_th_.
A. has been doing too much, the doctor says, and he is not to be allowed
out of the garden for a few days. Mrs Housman and Lady Jarvis take turns
in reading to him aloud. We have finished the Wells book and we are now
reading _Midshipman Easy_.
_Thursday, August_ 11_th._
I went for a walk with Cunninghame. He said his favourite book was _John
Inglesant_ and was surprised that I had not read it. He has it with him
and has lent it to me.
_Friday, August_ 12_th._
It rained all day. We spent the day reading aloud.
_Saturday, August_ 13_th._
A. is much better and went for a walk with me this morning.
_Sunday, August_ 14_th._
Housman was coming down yesterday but telegraphed to say he was
detained. Mrs Housman went to Mass. In the afternoon we received a visit
from an American who has come here in a yacht and met Cunninghame and
myself in the town this morning. His name is Harold C. Jefferson. When I
was introduced to him he said he did not quite catch my name. I said my
name was "Mellor"; he said: "Lord or Mister?" Cunninghame told him where
he was staying and he said he would call--he knew the Housmans in
America. He asked us all to go on board his yacht to-morrow. Mrs
Housman, Cunninghame and myself accepted. Lady Jarvis said she would
stop with A. who is not up to it.
_Monday, August_ 15_th_.
We had luncheon on board Mr Jefferson's yacht, a large steam vessel. It
has on board a piano and an organ, both of which are played by
electricity, which is in some respects satisfactory, but the _tempo_ of
the _Meistersinger_ Overture which was performed for us was accelerated
out of all recognition.
_Tuesday, August_ 16_th_.
A Miss Simpson called in the afternoon to ask Mrs Housman to help with
some local charity; she lives at the Hotel. She said she found it very
inconvenient not being able to go to Church. We wondered what prevented
her doing so, but she soon gave us the reason herself. She said that the
local clergyman was so low--no eastward position.
A. is much better and went for a walk with Lady Jarvis.
_Wednesday, August_ 17_th._
Housman has written to say that he will not be able to come down until
late in September. Carrington-Smith is unwell and he is overwhelmed with
business. He, Housman, may have to meet a man in Paris.
_Thursday, August_ 18_th._
A rainy day. Cunninghame and I went out in spite of the rain.
_Friday, August_ 19_th._
Cunninghame played golf with General York.
_Saturday, August_ 20_th._
Lady Jarvis, Mrs Housman and myself went for a drive. A. played golf
with Cunninghame. I began _John Inglesant_ last night. Mrs Housman has
never read it. After dinner we had some music. Mrs Housman played
Schubert's _Prometheus_ and hummed the tune. She says it is a man's
song.
_Sunday, August_ 21_st_.
A. says he is going to have his yacht sent up here--he will be able to
sail back in her. Mrs Housman went to Mass. In the afternoon we sat in
the garden and read out aloud _Cashel Byron's Profession,_ a novel by
Bernard Shaw. A. enjoyed it immensely.
_Monday, August_ 22_nd_.
We drove to the Lizard in a motor and had luncheon at the Hotel. A.
misses his yacht very much but he has sent for her. After dinner we
played Clumps.
_Tuesday, August_ 23_rd_.
Cunninghame was going to-morrow but he is staying till Saturday. Mrs
Housman went to Newquay to the convent for the day. Lady Jarvis took A.
for a drive.
_Wednesday, August_ 24_th._
This morning A., Cunninghame and myself walked down to the town. We met
a friend of Cunninghame's called Randall, who is yachting. He has just
come from France.
_Letter from Guy Cunninghame to Mrs Caryl_
GREY FARM, CARBIS BAY,
_Thursday, August_ 25_th._