Page 78 of Daddy-Long-Legs

LOCK WILLOW, 19th June

Dear Daddy-Long-Legs,

I'm educated! My diploma is in the bottom bureau drawer with my twobest dresses. Commencement was as usual, with a few showers at vitalmoments. Thank you for your rosebuds. They were lovely. MasterJervie and Master Jimmie both gave me roses, too, but I left theirs inthe bath tub and carried yours in the class procession.

Here I am at Lock Willow for the summer--for ever maybe. The board ischeap; the surroundings quiet and conducive to a literary life. Whatmore does a struggling author wish? I am mad about my book. I thinkof it every waking moment, and dream of it at night. All I want ispeace and quiet and lots of time to work (interspersed with nourishingmeals).

Master Jervie is coming up for a week or so in August, and JimmieMcBride is going to drop in sometime through the summer. He'sconnected with a bond house now, and goes about the country sellingbonds to banks. He's going to combine the 'Farmers' National' at theCorners and me on the same trip.

You see that Lock Willow isn't entirely lacking in society. I'd beexpecting to have you come motoring through--only I know now that thatis hopeless. When you wouldn't come to my commencement, I tore youfrom my heart and buried you for ever.

Judy Abbott, A.B.