Daddy-Long-Legs

MAGNOLIA, Four days later

I'd got just that much written, when--what do you think happened? Themaid arrived with Master Jervie's card. He is going abroad too thissummer; not with Julia and her family, but entirely by himself I toldhim that you had invited me to go with a lady who is chaperoning aparty of girls. He knows about you, Daddy. That is, he knows that myfather and mother are dead, and that a kind gentleman is sending me tocollege; I simply didn't have the courage to tell him about the JohnGrier Home and all the rest. He thinks that you are my guardian and aperfectly legitimate old family friend. I have never told him that Ididn't know you--that would seem too queer!

Anyway, he insisted on my going to Europe. He said that it was anecessary part of my education and that I mustn't think of refusing.Also, that he would be in Paris at the same time, and that we would runaway from the chaperon occasionally and have dinner together at nice,funny, foreign restaurants.

Well, Daddy, it did appeal to me! I almost weakened; if he hadn't beenso dictatorial, maybe I should have entirely weakened. I can beenticed step by step, but I WON'T be forced. He said I was a silly,foolish, irrational, quixotic, idiotic, stubborn child (those are a fewof his abusive adjectives; the rest escape me), and that I didn't knowwhat was good for me; I ought to let older people judge. We almostquarrelled--I am not sure but that we entirely did!

In any case, I packed my trunk fast and came up here. I thought I'dbetter see my bridges in flames behind me before I finished writing toyou. They are entirely reduced to ashes now. Here I am at Cliff Top(the name of Mrs. Paterson's cottage) with my trunk unpacked andFlorence (the little one) already struggling with first declensionnouns. And it bids fair to be a struggle! She is a most uncommonlyspoiled child; I shall have to teach her first how to study--she hasnever in her life concentrated on anything more difficult thanice-cream soda water.

We use a quiet corner of the cliffs for a schoolroom--Mrs. Patersonwishes me to keep them out of doors--and I will say that I find itdifficult to concentrate with the blue sea before me and shipsa-sailing by! And when I think I might be on one, sailing off toforeign lands--but I WON'T let myself think of anything but LatinGrammar.

The prepositions a or ab, absque, coram, cum, de e or ex, prae, pro,sine, tenus, in, subter, sub and super govern the ablative.

So you see, Daddy, I am already plunged into work with my eyespersistently set against temptation. Don't be cross with me, please,and don't think that I do not appreciate your kindness, for Ido--always--always. The only way I can ever repay you is by turningout a Very Useful Citizen (Are women citizens? I don't suppose theyare.) Anyway, a Very Useful Person. And when you look at me you cansay, 'I gave that Very Useful Person to the world.'

That sounds well, doesn't it, Daddy? But I don't wish to mislead you.The feeling often comes over me that I am not at all remarkable; it isfun to plan a career, but in all probability I shan't turn out a bitdifferent from any other ordinary person. I may end by marrying anundertaker and being an inspiration to him in his work.

Yours ever, Judy