Our Foreign Correspondent

           London

           DearestPeople,HereIreallysitatafrontwindowoftheBathHotel,Piccadilly.It’snotafashionableplace,butUnclestoppedhereyearsago,andwon’tgoanywhereelse.However,wedon’tmeantostaylong,soit’snogreatmatter.Oh,Ican’tbegintotellyouhowIenjoyitall!Inevercan,soI’llonlygiveyoubitsoutofmynotebook,forI’vedonenothingbutsketchandscribblesinceIstarted.

           IsentalinefromHalifax,whenIfeltprettymiserable,butafterthatIgotondelightfully,seldomill,ondeckallday,withplentyofpleasantpeopletoamuseme.Everyonewasverykindtome,especiallytheofficers.Don’tlaugh,Jo,gentlemenreallyareverynecessaryaboardship,toholdonto,ortowaituponone,andastheyhavenothingtodo,it’samercytomakethemuseful,otherwisetheywouldsmokethemselvestodeath,I’mafraid.

           AuntandFlowerepoorlyalltheway,andlikedtobeletalone,sowhenIhaddonewhatIcouldforthem,Iwentandenjoyedmyself.Suchwalksondeck,suchsunsets,suchsplendidairandwaves!Itwasalmostasexcitingasridingafasthorse,whenwewentrushingonsograndly.IwishBethcouldhavecome,itwouldhavedonehersomuchgood.AsforJo,shewouldhavegoneupandsatonthemaintopjib,orwhateverthehighthingiscalled,madefriendswiththeengineers,andtootedonthecaptain’sspeakingtrumpet,she’dhavebeeninsuchastateofrapture.