Berlin Jan 26. Dearest Father. I am very sorry in a way that Hugo has not got his scholarship and in a way I am not so sorry, for I did not much care for any of the 3 colleges he was up for. I expect he will be far happier at Magdalen or Baliol [sic], and as for his being in a working set, why Hugo's tastes will never lead him into a fast and lazy set, I imagine. It would be quite delightful if you would come out here in the end of February; you could take me home with you, which would be infinitely pleasanter than travelling by myself. I think it would amuse you to see 'ow they do here, and I should love you to come. Of all Mrs C.'s [Crackenthorpe?] utterances, the one you sent me (and which I return) seems to me to be the most unwise and foolish. What good she expects to do by meeting adverse charges with a flat denial, or by calling down the vengeance of Heaven upon the head of Leila's people, it is difficult to see. And as a literary effort, the document is no less unsatisfactory. I wish, oh I do wish, she would be silent! It is heavenly weather today, a bright sun with 2 or 3 degrees of frost. Florence and I skated this morning; except the Frys there was scarcely anyone there, and I learnt figures and tumbled about to my heart's content. We both enjoyed it very much - the weather was so exhilarating. This afternoon F. has a gavotte Probe at the Kaiserhof and Aunt M. [Mary] and I are going to see her dance. Tomorrow we have the durbar in the afternoon and the Gala Opera in the evening. We are looking forward to the latter.
Have you read Lord Roberts' book? It is awfully interesting.

I hope the frost will go on; there is no other form of exercise for us but skating.

Thank you so much for the children's letters. They are most amusing. Ever your affectionate daughter Gertrude