Harts, Almondsbury, Bristol. - Thanks Bob for sending her his poem ["A Dream"]. Her sister read it twice before she had a chance to see it. Asks if Bob has copies for sale, as she would like a few to send to friends; thinks it 'one of the best things' he has written, on a level with his 'letter to Goldie [Lowes Dickinson]'. Asks what his other friends think of it. His 'powers do not decay', though he 'often scratch[es] his head' and says he does not know what to do. The reconciliation of Lucifer and Christ seems original and interesting; must read "Par[adise] Regained" again. Wishes she could see Bob and talk to him. Finds Lady Bessborough and her family letters 'fascinating', as is everything that 'gets near Byron'; the letters are 'newly published by Lord Bessborough' ["Lady Bessborough and Her Family Circle"], and inspired her to [re-?] read and enjoy Byron. Has also read a new biography of [Edward] Trelawny [by Margaret Armstrong?]. 'That lot and the Wordsworth-Coleridge group never grow stale'. Heard 'scraps of a talk on Hazlitt' by ? on her 'very bad wireless' recently; wishes more of such talks were broadcast.
216 L.A.A. Bty. R.A., 151 Castle Boulevard, Nottingham. - Thanks Trevelyan very much for lending him "Pinocchio" [in Italian, as requested in 4/117] which is just right as he knows the story; still thinks the easiest Italian is Dante's. Is going to try Margaret Armstrong's biography of Trelawney: knows he was 'an awful old rascal' but Shelley liked him. Is lecturing to the troops on current affairs; finds it amazing 'how indifferent they are to news of any kind': none of them had heard of the Atlantic Charter.
Palace Hotel, Rome. - Sir George is much better; at first his leg seemed to have 'lost all power' and they were very uneasy, though the doctor said there was no injury to bone or muscle; it turned out to be largely rheumatism and the 'vigorous measures' they took against this have succeeded. Expect now to be able to start for home on 28 Deccember as planned; they will stop at Bologna, Lugano, Bale [Basel], Paris, and hope to be home on 4 January. Glad to hear what a good time Elizabeth and Robert are having; Aulla [home of the Waterfields] must be 'delightful', especially in 'this glorious weather'. Thinks the Tuscan people 'attractive... & very superior to the South Italians'. Hopes the 'Xmas festivity' will be successful. She and Sir George thought Robert's observation about Charles very good. Envies Elizabeth reading Hogg [Life of Percy Bysshe Shelley, see 46/113] for the first time; thinks it 'one of the most amusing of books'. Suppose she knows [Edward?] Trelawny. She and Sir George have finished Pepys, and are beginning Keats's letters again. The Com[mitt]ee do not seem to have collected enough to buy the house in Rome Keats died in yet, but she thinks they hope to do so. Asks to be remembered to Elizabeth's hostess [Lina Waterfield], whom she remembers meeting at the Mill House.