Dear Enemy

Page 93

Between the two of them I feel as limp as though I'd been run through

our new mangling machine. And then Betsy came home, and reviled me for

throwing away the choicest family we have ever discovered!

So this is the end of our week of feverish activity; and both Sophie and

Allegra are, after all, to be institution children. Oh dear! oh dear!

Please remove Sandy from the staff, and send me, instead, a German, a

Frenchman, a Chinaman, if you choose--anything but a Scotchman.

Yours wearily,

SALLIE.

P.S. I dare say that Sandy is also passing a busy evening in writing

to have me removed. I won't object if you wish to do it. I am tired of

institutions.

Dear Gordon:

You are a captious, caviling, carping, crabbed, contentious,

cantankerous chap. Hoot mon! an' why shouldna I drap into Scotch gin I

choose? An' I with a Mac in my name.

Of course the John Grier will be delighted to welcome you on Thursday

next, not only for the donkey, but for your sweet sunny presence as

well. I was planning to write you a mile-long letter to make up for past

deficiencies, but wha's the use? I'll be seeing you the morn's morn, an'

unco gude will be the sight o' you for sair een.

Dinna fash yoursel, Laddie, because o'my language. My forebears were

from the Hielands.

McBRIDE.

Dear Judy:

All's well with the John Grier--except for a broken tooth, a sprained

wrist, a badly scratched knee, and one case of pinkeye. Betsy and I are

being polite, but cool, toward the doctor. The annoying thing is that

he is rather cool, too. And he seems to be under the impression that the

drop in temperature is all on his side. He goes about his business in a

scientific, impersonal way, entirely courteous, but somewhat detached.

However, the doctor is not disturbing us very extensively at present.

We are about to receive a visit from a far more fascinating person than

Sandy. The House of Representatives again rests from its labors, and

Gordon enjoys a vacation, two days of which he is planning to spend at

the Brantwood Inn.

I am delighted to hear that you have had enough seaside, and are

considering our neighborhood for the rest of the summer. There are

several spacious estates to be had within a few miles of the John Grier,

and it will be a nice change for Jervis to come home only at week ends.

After a pleasantly occupied absence, you will each have some new ideas

to add to the common stock.

I can't add any further philosophy just now on the subject of married

life, having to refresh my memory on the Monroe Doctrine and one or two