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Vincent's Club, Oxford.
Mar: 3 [1899]
My dear Mother
The worst has happened. I have not got the All Souls. Apparently they felt bound to give one in Law, and that went to Phil Baker, a very good man. The History one was given to D.O. Malcolm. I always told you that he was the dangerous man, for his father was a fellow, and all sorts of old people came up to vote for him. I cannot believe for a moment
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that he beat me on the papers, and the general opinion in Oxford is that the election is preposterous. I am of course bitterly disappointed, but I will recover. Many thanks for the many kind letters you have written to me during the last weeks. I think that perhaps I did not do myself full justice in the papers, as I was so seedy during the exam. But I am quite certain that I was not beaten by Malcolm.
However I hope to get something yet.
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I have been rather seedy all the last few days, but I am better now. Everybody is very kind about it. I am chiefly sorry that I did not get it for your sake and father's. But a sort of fatality seems to pursue decent men this year - Arnold Ward being beaten at [illegible] e.g.
I shall be very glad to see Willie up on Monday and hope he will enjoy himself. I must cut my coat according to my cloth and take humbler lodgings in town than I intended.
With love to all
Your affectionate son John
