dear enemy-第18章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
have I known two people who matched so perfectly。 He's a widower with five children。 Don't you suppose it might be arranged？ If he had a wife to take up his attention； it might deflect him a little from us。 I'd be getting rid of them both at one stroke。 It's to be considered among our future improvements。
Anyway； we had our dinner。 And during the course of the evening my anxiety grew； not as to whether Percy would do for us； but as to whether we should do for Percy。 If I searched the world over； I never could find a young man more calculated to win the affection of those boys。 You know； just by looking at him； that he does everything well； at least everything vigorous。 His literary and artistic accomplishments I suspect a bit； but he rides and shoots and plays golf and football and sails a boat。 He likes to sleep out of doors and he likes boys。 He has always wanted to know some orphans； often read about 'em in books； he says； but never met any face to face。 Percy does seem too good to be true。
Before they left； Jimmie and the doctor hunted up a lantern； and in their evening clothes conducted Mr。 Witherspoon across a plowed field to inspect his future dwelling。
And such a Sunday as we passed！ I had absolutely to forbid their carpentering。 Those men would have put in a full day； quite irrespective of the damage done to one hundred and four little moral natures。 As it is； they have just stood and looked at those shacks and handled their hammers； and thought about where they would drive the first nail tomorrow morning。 The more I study men； the more I realize that they are nothing in the world but boys grown too big to be spankable。
I am awfully worried as to how to feed Mr。 Witherspoon。 He looks as though he had a frightfully healthy appetite； and he looks as though he couldn't swallow his dinner unless he had on evening clothes。 I've made Betsy send home for a trunkful of evening gowns in order to keep up our social standing。 One thing is fortunate： he takes his luncheon at the hotel； and I hear their luncheons are very filling。
Tell Jervis I am sorry he is not with us to drive a nail for the camp。 Here comes the Hon。 Cy up the path。 Heaven save us！
Ever your unfortunate；
S。 McB。
THE JOHN GRIER HOME；
May 8。 Dear Judy：
Our camp is finished； our energetic brother has gone； and our twenty…four boys have passed two healthful nights in the open。 The three bark…covered shacks add a pleasant rustic touch to the grounds。 They are like those we used to have in the Adirondacks； closed on three sides and open in the front； and one larger than the rest to allow a private pavilion for Mr。 Percy Witherspoon。 An adjacent hut； less exposed to the weather； affords extremely adequate bathing facilities； consisting of a faucet in the wall and three watering…cans。 Each camp has a bath master who stands on a stool and sprinkles each little shiverer as he trots under。 Since our trustees WON'T give us enough bathtubs； we have to use our wits。
The three camps have organized into three tribes of Indians； each with a chief of its own to answer for its conduct； Mr。 Witherspoon high chief of all； and Dr。 MacRae the medicine man。 They dedicated their lodges Tuesday evening with appropriate tribal ceremonies。 And though they politely invited me to attend； I decided that it was a purely masculine affair； so I declined to go； but sent refreshments； a very popular move。 Betsy and I walked as far as the baseball field in the course of the evening； and caught a glimpse of the orgies。 The braves were squatting in a circle about a big fire； each decorated with a blanket from his bed and a rakish band of feathers。 （Our chickens seem very scant as to tail； but I have asked no unpleasant questions。） The doctor； with a Navajo blanket about his shoulders； was executing a war dance； while Jimmie and Mr。 Witherspoon beat on war drumstwo of our copper kettles； now permanently dented。 Fancy Sandy！ It's the first youthful glimmer I have ever caught in the man。
After ten o'clock； when the braves were safely stowed for the night； the three men came in and limply dropped into comfortable chairs in my library； with the air of having made martyrs of themselves in the great cause of charity。 But they did not deceive me。 They originated all that tomfoolery for their own individual delectation。
So far Mr。 Percy Witherspoon appears fairly happy。 He is presiding at one end of the officers' table under the special protection of Betsy； and I am told that he instills considerable life into that sedate assemblage。 I have endeavored to run up their menu a trifle； and he accepts what is put before him with a perfectly good appetite； irrespective of the absence of such accustomed trifles as oysters and quail and soft…shell crabs。
There was no sign of a private sitting room that I could put at this young man's disposal； but he himself has solved the difficulty by proposing to occupy our new laboratory。 So he spends his evenings with a book and a pipe； comfortably stretched in the dentist's chair。 There are not many society men who would be willing to spend their evenings so harmlessly。 That girl in Detroit is a lucky young thing。
Mercy！ An automobile full of people has just arrived to look over the institution； and Betsy； who usually does the honors； not here。 I fly。
ADDIO！
SALLIE。
My dear Gordon：
This is not a letter；I don't owe you one；it's a receipt for sixty…five pairs of roller skates。
Many thanks。
S。 McB。
Friday。 Dear Enemy：
I hear that I missed a call today； but Jane delivered your message； together with the 〃Genetic Philosophy of Education。〃 She says that you will call in a few days for my opinion of the book。 Is it to be a written or an oral examination？
And doesn't it ever occur to you that this education business is rather one…sided？ It often strikes me that Dr。 Robin MacRae's mental attitude would also be the better for some slight refurbishing。 I will promise to read your book； provided you read one of mine。 I am sending herewith the 〃Dolly Dialogues；〃 and shall ask for an opinion in a day or so。
It's uphill work making a Scotch Presbyterian frivolous； but persistency accomplishes wonders。
S。 McB。
May 12。 My dear； dear Judy：
Talk about floods in Ohio！ Right here in Dutchess County we are the consistency of a wet sponge。 Rain for five days； and everything wrong with this institution。
The babies have had croup； and we have been up o' nights with them。 Cook has given notice； and there's a dead rat in the walls。 Our three camps leaked； and in the early dawn； after the first cloudburst； twenty…four bedraggled little Indians； wrapped in damp bedding； came shivering to the door and begged for admission。 Since then every clothesline； every stair…railing has been covered with wet and smelly blankets that steam； but won't dry。 Mr。 Percy de Forest Witherspoon has returned to the hotel to wait until the sun comes out。
After being cooped up for four days with no exercise to speak of； the children's badness is breaking out in red spots； like the measles。 Betsy and I have thought of every form of active and innocent occupation that could be carried on in such a congested quarter as this： blind man's buff and pillow fights and hide…and…go…seek； gymnastics in the dining room； and bean…bags in the school room。 （We broke two windows。） The boys played leapfrog up and down the hall； and jarred all the plaster in the building。 We have cleaned energetically and furiously。 All the woodwork has been washed； and all of the floors polished。 But despite everything； we have a great deal of energy left； and we are getting to that point of nerves where we want to punch one an
