CHAPTER I

hs?Ibelievesimplybecauseweassociatethemwithexpensivehotels—Mrs.Wilcoxtrailinginbeautifuldressesdownlongcorridors,Mr.Wilcoxbullyingporters,etc.Wefemalesarethatunjust. “IshallbebackSaturdaywillletyouknowtrainlater.TheyareasangryasIamthatyoudidnotcometooreallyTibbyistootiresome,hestartsanewmortaldiseaseeverymonth.HowcouldhehavegothayfeverinLondon?andevenifhecould,itseemshardthatyoushouldgiveupavisittohearaschoolboysneeze.TellhimthatCharlesWilcox(thesonwhoishere)hashayfevertoo,buthe’sbrave,andgetsquitecrosswhenweinquireafterit.MenliketheWilcoxeswoulddoTibbyapowerofgood.Butyouwon’tagree,andI’dbetterchangethesubject. “ThislongletterisbecauseI’mwritingbeforebreakfast.Oh,thebeautifulvineleaves!Thehouseiscoveredwithavine.Ilookedoutearlier,andMrs.Wilcoxwasalreadyinthegarden.Sheevidentlylovesit.Nowondershesometimeslookstired.Shewaswatchingthelargeredpoppiescomeout.Thenshewalkedoffthelawntothemeadow,whosecornertotherightIcanjustsee.Trail,trail,wentherlongdressoverthesoppinggrass,andshecamebackwithherhandsfullo