dear enemy-第26章
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Betsy has perpetrated a most unconscionable trick upon a pair of adopting parents。 They have traveled East from Ohio in their touring car for the dual purpose of seeing the country and picking up a daughter。 They appear to be the leading citizens of their town； whose name at the moment escapes me； but it's a very important town。 It has electric lights and gas； and Mr。 Leading Citizen owns the controlling interest in both plants。 With a wave of his hand he could plunge that entire town into darkness； but fortunately he's a kind man； and won't do anything so harsh； not even if they fail to reelect him mayor。 He lives in a brick house with a slate roof and two towers； and has a deer and fountain and lots of nice shade trees in the yard。 （He carries its photograph in his pocket。） They are good…natured； generous； kind…hearted； smiling people； and a little fat； you can see what desirable parents they would make。
Well； we had exactly the daughter of their dreams； only； as they came without giving us notice； she was dressed in a flannellet nightgown； and her face was dirty。 They looked Caroline over； and were not impressed； but they thanked us politely； and said they would bear her in mind。 They wanted to visit the New York Orphanage before deciding。 We knew well that； if they saw that superior assemblage of children； our poor little Caroline would never have a chance。
Then Betsy rose to the emergency。 She graciously invited them to motor over to her house for tea that afternoon and inspect one of our little wards who would be visiting her baby niece。 Mr。 and Mrs。 Leading Citizen do not know many people in the East； and they haven't been receiving the invitations that they feel are their due； so they were quite innocently pleased at the prospect of a little social diversion。 The moment they had retired to the hotel for luncheon； Betsy called up her car； and rushed baby Caroline over to her house。 She stuffed her into baby niece's best pink…and…white embroidered frock； borrowed a hat of Irish lace； some pink socks and white slippers； and set her picturesquely upon the green lawn under a spreading beech tree。 A white…aproned nurse （borrowed also from baby niece） plied her with bread and milk and gaily colored toys。 By the time prospective parents arrived； our Caroline； full of food and contentment； greeted them with cooes of delight。 From the moment their eyes fell upon her they were ravished with desire。 Not a suspicion crossed their unobservant minds that this sweet little rosebud was the child of the morning。 And so； a few formalities having been complied with； it really looks as though baby Caroline would live in the Towers and grow into a leading citizen。
I must really get to work； without any further delay； upon the burning question of new clothes for our girls。
With the highest esteem； I am； D'r Ma'am； Y'r most ob'd't and h'mble serv't；
SAL。 McBRIDE。
June 19th。 My dearest Judy：
Listen to the grandest innovation of all； and one that will delight your heart。
NO MORE BLUE GINGHAM！
Feeling that this aristocratic neighborhood of country estates might contain valuable food for our asylum； I have of late been moving in the village social circles； and at a luncheon yesterday I dug out a beautiful and charming widow who wears delectable； flowing gowns that she designs herself。 She confided to me that she would have loved to have been a dressmaker； if she had only been born with a needle in her mouth instead of a golden spoon。 She says she never sees a pretty girl badly dressed but she longs to take her in hand and make her over。 Did you ever hear anything so apropos？ From the moment she opened her lips she was a marked man。
〃I can show you fifty…nine badly dressed girls；〃 said I to her； and you have got to come back with me and plan their new clothes and make them beautiful。〃
She expostulated； but in vain。 I led her out to her automobile； shoved her in； and murmured； 〃John Grier Home〃 to the chauffeur。 The first inmate our eyes fell upon was Sadie Kate； just fresh； I judge； from hugging the molasses barrel； and a shocking spectacle she was for any esthetically minded person。 In addition to the stickiness； one stocking was coming down； her pinafore was buttoned crookedly； and she had lost a hair…ribbon。 Butas alwayscompletely at ease； she welcomed us with a cheery grin； and offered the lady a sticky paw。
〃Now；〃 said I； in triumph； 〃you see how much we need you。 What can you do to make Sadie Kate beautiful？〃
〃Wash her；〃 said Mrs。 Livermore。
Sadie Kate was marched to my bathroom。 When the scrubbing was finished and the hair strained back and the stocking restored to seemly heights； I returned her for a second inspectiona perfectly normal little orphan。 Mrs。 Livermore turned her from side to side； and studied her long and earnestly。
Sadie Kate by nature is a beauty； a wild； dark； Gypsyish little colleen。 She looks fresh from the wind…swept moors of Connemara。 But； oh； we have managed to rob her of her birthright with this awful institution uniform！
After five minutes' silent contemplation； Mrs。 Livermore raised her eyes to mine。
〃Yes； my dear； you need me。〃
And then and there we formed our plans。 She is to head the committee on C L O T H E S。 She is to choose three friends to help her。 And they； with the two dozen best sewers among the girls and our sewing…teacher and five sewing machines； are going to make over the looks of this institution。 And the charity is all on our side。 We are supplying Mrs。 Livermore with the profession that Providence robbed her of。 Wasn't it clever of me to find her？ I woke this morning at dawn and crowed！
Lots more news；I could run into a second volume；but I am going to send this letter to town by Mr。 Witherspoon； who； in a very high collar and the blackest of evening clothes； is on the point of departure for a barn dance at the country club。 I told him to pick out the nicest girls he danced with to come and tell stories to my children。
It is dreadful； the scheming person I am getting to be。 All the time I am talking to any one； I am silently thinking； 〃What use can you be to my asylum？〃
There is grave danger that this present superintendent will become so interested in her job that she will never want to leave。 I sometimes picture her a white…haired old lady； propelled about the building in a wheeled chair； but still tenaciously superintending her fourth generation of orphans。
PLEASE discharge her before that day！
Yours；
SALLIE。
Friday。 Dear Judy：
Yesterday morning； without the slightest warning； a station hack drove up to the door and disgorged upon the steps two men； two little boys； a baby girl； a rocking horse； and a Teddy bear； and then drove off！
The men were artists； and the little ones were children of another artist； dead three weeks ago。 They had brought the mites to us because they thought 〃John Grier〃 sounded solid and respectable； and not like a public institution。 It had never entered their unbusinesslike heads that any formality is necessary about placing a child in an asylum。
I explained that we were full； but they seemed so stranded and aghast； that I told them to sit down while I advised them what to do。 So the chicks were sent to the nursery； with a recommendation of bread and milk； while I listened to their history。 Those artists had a fatally literary touch； or maybe it was just the sound of the baby girl's laugh； but； anyway； before they had finished； the babes were ours。
Never have I seen a sunnier creature than the little Allegra （we don't often get such fancy names or such fancy children）。 She is three years old； is lisping funny baby talk and bubbling with laughter。 The tragedy she has just emerged from has never touched her。 But Don and Clifford； sturdy little lads of five and seven； are already solemn…eyed and frightened at the hardness of life。
Their mother was a kindergart
