April [4th?] 1884.
My Dear Carrie,
Your letter with the tickets is just received. Am glad the Dr. knew what was the proper thing. You have probably received my letter telling of Miss Irwin’s kindness in granting me the entire day.
Last evening Grace received a telegram from her sister who was married ten days ago, saying they would be here this morning. She met them at the depot at ten, and when I came home I found
them here. Grace met me at the front door and asked me to wait in the parlor a while as [...a?] was brushing her hair. I waited nearly an hour, but Grace whistled, and I came up and was introduced. I think she is perfectly horrid and I knew from her picture that I should not like her. She hardly touched the tips of my fingers, and as soon as Mr. Holden had done the same said “I think we’d better go down-stairs” so down they went. Grace
remained a few minutes and I was brushing my hair and fixing up a little. You know I felt rather [disreputable?] after being at school all day. In about ten minutes up came Grace and [...a?] & put on their things and go down town. It is a pouring-rain and their [...] does not [clean?] until [this?] night. [Mrs.?] Holden said “I shan’t see you again, so I will tell you that we fully appreciate your kindness to Grace.” I said I thought the kindness had been on both sides and she replied as
quick as a flash “Oh, of course we know Grace has been very kind to you. Good-by.” and off they went. [...] [...] asked me to come down to the parlor and bid [Mrs.?] Holden good-by, so [...] the [...] I really felt hurt. When you were here I tried to make Grace feel that she was a pleasant addition and not at all in the way. I felt just the same today but perhaps it was my own fault. I am [sure?] I don’t know where they will spend all the time
but Grace said Dan wanted them to go down town and get supper, and she should not come home until after the train left. She is mad at him because he has written to me about Vassar, and declares she will be away from home next Wednesday when he comes. I have come to the conclusion that hereafter I will only take care of myself, and not try to do anything to please other people. Mighty little thanks you usually get for trying. We shall come up [...] later than the three o’clock train, but I will write you when we
Chase is boarding after I come back and [shall?] [...] my trunk [there?] before I go. I do hope it will be pleasant weather Friday and Saturday. [Tom?] writes he is perfectly crazy for May 2nd to come for he expects to be dazed by the brilliance, beauty and grace of the Vassar girls. I am so much obliged to [Tom?] for getting us the tickets. Thanks for the invitations, they are very pretty indeed.
Enough of this scrawl -
[...] best for my dear Carrie
Flo-
have fully decided, and then if we change [our?] mind in New York, I will telegraph. Am so sorry the gentleman is not coming. Hope your college boys won’t fail you. Grace expects Dr. Allen will take her and [introduce?] her to [all?] the [notables?]. She is just a little bit spoilt since she got her appointment: Monday she was invited to the New [Century?] Club, and made a great deal of and is to be proposed for member ship at the next meeting. I have decided to go down on [Christine?] St. where Miss