Mother Carey's Chickens
"I don't remember; pretty long; because there seemed to be so much to tell, to show him how we loved the house, and why we could n't spend Cousin Ann's money and move out in a year or two, and a lot about ourselves, to let him see we were nice and agreeable and respectable."
"I'm not sure all that was strictly necessary," commented Mrs. Carey with some trepidation.
This was Lemuel Hamilton's letter, dated from the office of the American Consul in Breslau, Germany.
My dear Miss Nancy,—As your letter to me was a purely "business" communication I suppose I ought to begin my reply: "Dear Madam, Your esteemed favor was received on the sixth inst. and contents noted," but I shall do nothing of the sort. I think you must have guessed that I have two girls of my own, for you wrote to me just as if we were sitting together side by side, like two friends, not a bit as landlord and tenant.
Mother Carey's eyes twinkled. She well knew Nancy's informal epistolary style, and her facile, instantaneous friendliness!
Every word in your letter interested me, pleased me, touched me. I feel that I know you all, from the dear mother who sits in the centre—
"What does he mean by that?"
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