August 19
Dear Daddy Longlegs,
Here I am at Mrs. Paterson's cottage by the sea.
My window looks out on the loveliest landscape.
Or seascape, I guess.
Water, rocks, and sky are all I can see.
Did I describe my job in my last letter?
Mrs. Paterson's older daughter, Marion, is starting college this fall.
I'm tutoring her in English, Latin, and algebra.
I'm also working on English and Latin with Florence, the younger daughter.
And what a job it is!
I don't know how Marion is going to succeed at college.
And Florence is hopeless!
Pretty, but not very bright.
On my first morning, Mrs. Paterson asked me to come into her study.
"I know you're the girls' tutor," Mrs. Paterson said.
"But I don't want you working them too hard."
"No, ma'am."
"I want them to spend most of the day outdoors.
Perhaps you can find a pretty place to set up your classroom."
"I'll try, ma'am.
But if Marion's going to start college, she'll need to concentrate."
"I'm sure you'll figure out what to do."
And with that Mrs. Paterson went back to reading a letter.
So I took the girls outside, and we tramped around until we found a spot hidden in the cliffs.
At first, even I had trouble concentrating.
Every time a ship passed by, I thought of sailing to Europe.
And I wondered what I was missing.
"I'll never understand any of this!"
Marion tossed her math book onto the ground.
"Mother is making me go to college, but I don't see why.
It's a girls' college too.
How am I supposed to find a husband there?"
"If you get an education, then you'll be able to work," I said.
Florence giggled, and Marion said, "Married women don't have time to work!"
I frowned at them.
"Don't you want to learn math and grammar?"
"I've got no use for math," Marion said.
"And grammar is boring!"
"I agree," Florence chimed in.
"I worry about you two," I murmured.
And it was true.
Their conversation is so boring.
But I suppose that won't matter if they marry boring men.
I've certainly met quite a few boring ones this summer!
Fortunately, I only have to tutor the girls for half the day.
By the way, I received a letter from Jervie.
It's quite a short letter from Paris.
He's still upset that I refused to follow his advice about going to Europe.
He says if he gets back in time, he'll see me for a few days at Lock Willow Farm.
(If he gets back in time!
Does he expect me to sit around, hoping he'll arrive?)
I think he'll forgive me for staying here this summer.
But I'll probably have to be very sweet and docile.
I also received a letter from Sallie.
She wants me to come to their summer house for two weeks in September.
Do I have to ask your permission to do that?
Or am I old enough to do what I want?
Never mind.
I know I'm old enough because I'm a college senior.
Having worked all summer, I feel like taking a vacation.
I want to see the mountains and the lake.
I want to see Sallie and her brother.
Jimmy is going to teach me to canoe. That'll be fun!
But here's my real motive for going to Sallie's.
I want Jervie to arrive at Lock Willow and find that I'm not there.
I know that's mean.
But I MUST show him that he can't tell me what to do.
The only person who can do that is you—and not all the time.
I'm off to the woods!
Yours ever,
Judy
September 6
Dear Daddy Longlegs,
I'm at Sallie's summer house in the mountains.
I'm pleased to say that I've been here for five days.
By the time your letter arrived at Mrs. Paterson's cottage, I had already left.
So I couldn't go to Lock Willow as you ordered.
Mrs. Paterson forwarded your letter to me here.
If you want me to obey in the future, tell your secretary to write more quickly.
The woods are lovely, and so is the house.
The weather is delightful, and I enjoy spending time with the McBrides.
The whole world is wonderful. I'm very happy!
Oh, I have to stop writing.
Jimmy is calling me to go canoeing. Good-bye!
Yours,
Judy
P.S. I'm sorry to have disobeyed you.
But I'm curious about one thing.
Why are you so against my having a little fun?
I worked hard all summer tutoring those ridiculous girls.
I deserve a break.
In spite of all your faults, I still appreciate you.