Dec 30 Red Barns, Coatham, Redcar. Dearest Mother. Thank you so much for the book. It arrived in the nick of time for Mr Tyrrell was afflicted with a headache last night and breakfasted in bed this morning so that I could send it up to him to cheer him. We had a very pleasant day yesterday, glorious weather. We all went by train to Picton where our horses met Hugo and me and Phyllis met the Tyrrells and drove them to R'ton [Rounton]. There they spent the day, going in the afternoon to Mt Grace, while we had a nice day's hunting! Hugo fell off once, but lost no more teeth. We hung about Leven Banks for a long time but got away into the open late in the afternoon and had a delightful run away into the sunset, which we both enjoyed extremely. Frank Stobart was out and asked after Father. My ally in the hunting field is Mr Ted Whitwell! He's a good old soul and goes very straight and following him, I generally find myself in the thick of things. We rode back to R'ton just in time for tea and all came home together. I send you the Academy and Literature. Also the bill for the M.L. slides which I think you said you wd pay and Luxac's[?] bill for my present for which I am most grateful. It was so kind of you to think of it! Tell Father his handsome present hasn't come yet, but I daresay he has had some difficulty in procuring it as it's out of print! The T.s stay here till Thursday - I wonder when you will come home. Aunt F. said she thought Father wd barely be home this week. I do think it's so much wiser that he shd take things very easily. I'm glad to hear that he is seeing no one.
I don't want to read the Life of Z Macaulay and I have the first vol of the Amir, some day I shd like to read the 2nd. Otherwise don't bother if you have none to spare. Perhaps one this week wd be a blessing, for Mr T. I shd like some time to read the book about Turkey by Odysseus - I know who he is, by the way. Ever your very affectionate daughter Gertrude