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Were there any guns aboard； and if a privateer should attack her； could she hold her own？ In case of a mutiny； could the captain shoot down anybody he chose； and wouldn't he be hanged when he got to shore？
I had ignominiously to call upon Sandy to finish my speech。 I realize that the best…equipped feminine mind in the world can't cope with the peculiar class of questions that originate in a thirteen…year boy's brain。
As a result of their seafaring interest； the doctor conceived the idea of inviting seven of the oldest and most alert lads to spend the day with him in New York and see with their own eyes an oceanliner。 They rose at five yesterday morning； caught the 7：30 train； and had the most wonderful adventure that has happened in all their seven lives。 They visited one of the big liners （Sandy knows the Scotch engineer）； and were conducted from the bottom of the hold to the top of the crow's…nest； and then had luncheon on board。 And after luncheon they visited the aquarium and the top of the Singer Building； and took the subway uptown to spend an hour with the birds of America in their habitats。 Sandy with great difficulty pried them away from the Natural History Museum in time to catch the 6：15 train。 Dinner in the dining…car。 They inquired with great particularity how much it was costing； and when they heard that it was the same； no matter how much you ate； they drew deep breaths and settled quietly and steadily to the task of not allowing their host to be cheated。 The railroad made nothing on that party； and all the tables around stopped eating to stare。 One traveler asked the doctor if it was a boarding school he had in charge； so you can see how the manners and bearing of our lads have picked up。 I don't wish to boast； but no one would ever have asked such a question concerning seven of Mrs。 Lippett's youngsters。 〃Are they bound for a reformatory？〃 would have been the natural question after observing the table manners of her offspring。
My little band tumbled in toward ten o'clock； excitedly babbling a mess of statistics about reciprocating compound engines and watertight bulkheads； devil…fish and sky…scrapers and birds of paradise。 I thought I should never get them to bed。 And； oh； but they had had a glorious day！ I do wish I could manage breaks in the routine oftener。 It gives them a new outlook on life and makes them more like normal children。 Wasn't it really nice of Sandy？ But you should have seen that man's behavior when I tried to thank him。 He waved me aside in the middle of a sentence； and growlingly asked Miss Snaith if she couldn't economize a little on carbolic acid。 The house smelt like a hospital。
I must tell you that Punch is back with us again； entirely renovated as to manners。 I am looking for a family to adopt him。
I had hoped those two intelligent spinsters would see their way to keeping him forever； but they want to travel； and they feel he's too consuming of their liberty。 I inclose a sketch in colored chalk of your steamer； which he has just completed。 There is some doubt as to the direction in which it is going； it looks as though it might progress backward and end in Brooklyn。 Owing to the loss of my blue pencil； our flag has had to adopt the Italian colors。
The three figures on the bridge are you and Jervis and the baby。 I am pained to note that you carry your daughter by the back of her neck； as if she were a kitten。 That is not the way we handle babies in the J。 G。 H。 nursery。 Please also note that the artist has given Jervis his full due in the matter of legs。 When I asked Punch what had become of the captain； he said that the captain was inside； putting coal on the fire。 Punch was terribly impressed； as well he might be； when he heard that your steamer burned three hundred wagonloads a day； and he naturally supposed that all hands had been piped to the stokehole。
BOW！ WOW！
That's a bark from Sing。 I told him I was writing to you； and he responded instantly。
We both send love。
Yours；
SALLIE。
THE JOHN GRIER HOME；
Saturday。 Dear Enemy：
You were so terribly gruff last night when I tried to thank you for giving my boys such a wonderful day that I didn't have a chance to express half of the appreciation I felt。
What on earth is the matter with you； Sandy？ You used to be a tolerably nice manin spots； but these last three or four months you have only been nice to other people； never to me。 We have had from the first a long series of misunderstandings and foolish contretemps； but after each one we seemed to reach a solider basis of understanding； until I had thought our friendship was on a pretty firm foundation； capable of withstanding any reasonable shock。
And then came that unfortunate evening last June when you overheard some foolish impolitenesses； which I did not in the slightest degree mean； and from then on you faded into the distance。 Really； I have felt terribly bad about it； and have wanted to apologize； but your manner has not been inviting of confidence。 It isn't that I have any excuse or explanation to offer； I haven't。 You know how foolish and silly I am on occasions； but you will just have to realize that though I'm flippant and foolish and trivial on top； I am pretty solid inside； and you've got to forgive the silly part。 The Pendletons knew that long ago； or they wouldn't have sent me up here。 I have tried hard to pull off an honest job； partly because I wanted to justify their judgment； partly because I was really interested in giving the poor little kiddies their share of happiness； but mostly； I actually believe； because I wanted to show you that your first derogatory opinion of me was ill founded。 Won't you please expunge that unfortunate fifteen minutes at the porte…cochere last June； and remember instead the fifteen hours I spent reading the Kallikak Family？
I would like to feel that we're friends again。
SALLIE McBRIDE。
THE JOHN GRIER HOME；
Sunday。
Dear Dr。 MacRae：
I am in receipt of your calling card with an eleven…word answer to my letter on the back。 I didn't mean to annoy you by my attentions。 What you think and how you behave are really matters of extreme indifference to me。 Be just as impolite as you choose。
S。 McB。
December 14。 Dear Judy：
PLEASE pepper your letters with stamps； inside and out。 I have thirty collectors in the family。 Since you have taken to travel； every day about post time an eager group gathers at the gate； waiting to snatch any letters of foreign design； and by the time the letters reach me they are almost in shreds through the tenacity of rival snatchers。 Tell Jervis to send us some more of those purple pine trees from Honduras； likewise some green parrots from Guatemala。 I could use a pint of them！
Isn't it wonderful to have g