June 4
Dear Daddy Longlegs,
We're very busy right now.
Exams start tomorrow.
The weather is so lovely, but there's no time to enjoy it.
Oh well. Vacation's coming.
We took a break from studying today to discuss our summer plans.
"I'm going to Europe again," Julia said.
I put down my pen. "Oh, you're so lucky!"
"I guess so.
But sometimes I get bored being away from my friends for the whole summer.
This will be my fourth trip."
I'd be happy to go on my first trip—or my tenth!
But I didn't want to act like I was jealous. Even though I was!
"I'm going to our summer house in the mountains." Sallie looked at me.
"I wish you were coming with me."
"So do I. But my guardian would never agree to that.
I didn't even dare to ask."
Julia looked at me.
"Are you going back to that farm in the middle of nowhere?"
"Yes, at the end of the summer.
But first I'm tutoring Mrs. Charles Paterson's daughters.
We'll be staying at their cottage at the beach."
"Mrs. Paterson is a friend of my mother's," Sallie explained to Julia.
"She met Judy at our house during Christmas vacation sophomore year.
You must have made a good impression," she said to me.
"Mrs. Paterson seems nice," I said.
"And she's generous.
She's paying me fifty dollars a month.
I'd be happy with twenty-five, but I wasn't going to say no to fifty!"
Julia shook her head.
"I'm glad I don't have to worry about money. It's so boring."
As soon as Julia left the room, Sallie rolled her eyes.
"It must be nice to be able to buy whatever you want."
I shrugged.
"Maybe money is boring, but I'm looking forward to earning some this summer.
I'm also eager to see the Semples and my favorite farm animals."
I must tell you one more thing, Daddy Longlegs.
Sallie's brother, Jimmy, and his roommate, Bill, are graduating from Princeton this week.
Sallie and I really wanted to go to the ceremony.
But we have exams that day.
A bitter disappointment!
I must stop writing and do some more studying.
Yours,
Judy
June 10
Dear Daddy Longlegs,
This is the hardest letter I've ever written.
But I've decided what I must do, so there's no turning back.
It's very generous of you to offer to send me to Europe this summer.
I was very tempted to say yes!
But then I took some time to think.
I can't refuse to take your money for college, and then accept it for travel.
Besides, I don't want to get used to too many luxuries.
A trip to Europe is definitely a luxury!
I want to go, but I don't need to go.
Sometimes it's hard to live with Julia and Sallie.
They think the world owes them everything they want.
But I know that's not true for me.
Thank you again for your nice offer.
Don't be angry with me for refusing.
I appreciate your kindness.
I really do.
But you've already done so much for me.
Yours,
Judy
June 14
Dear Daddy Longlegs,
I'm at the beach with Mrs. Paterson and her two daughters.
I left college a few days earlier than I'd planned.
Here's what happened.
I was in the middle of exams when Jervie showed up again.
He took me to tea in town.
"I'm going to Europe this summer," he announced.
I laughed. "It sounds like all the Pendletons will be there.
Are you going with Julia and her family?"
"No, I'm going by myself."
"My guardian offered to send me to Europe with a lady who's chaperoning a group of girls."
I stirred some sugar into my tea.
"But I decided not to go."
"Oh, you shouldn't say no to an opportunity like that!
Seeing Europe is an important part of your education."
He grinned at me.
"I could arrange to be in Paris when you're there.
We could run away from the chaperone and have dinner at a nice French restaurant."
I laughed. "That's very tempting, but I can't go."
When I tried to explain why I couldn't go, he wouldn't listen.
"You're a silly, stubborn child!" Jervie said.
"You don't know what's good for you."
He kept insisting I go.
That made me so angry!
I don't like feeling forced to do something.
I was glad to finish our tea and get back to studying.
As soon as exams were over, I packed my bags and left for Mrs. Paterson's.
And now I'm here by the sea.
Yours,
Judy
P.S. I told Jervie about you.
He thinks you're my guardian and an old family friend.
He knows I'm an orphan, but I didn't dare mention the John Grier Home.