FullReads

I am sorry that these footnotes have grown so big; let us leave them and return to the letter. There are many ways of answering such a letter. One might say, “MY DEAR MARGERY,–It was jolly to get a real letter from you at last—-” but the “at last” would seem rather tactless considering what had passed years before. Or one might say, “MY DEAR MARGERY,–Thank you for your jolly letter. I am so sorry about baby’s knee and so glad about your toys. Perhaps if you gave one of the toys to baby, then her knee—-” But I feel sure that Margery would expect me to do better than that.

In the particular case of this last letter but seven I wrote:

“DEAREST MARGERY,–Thank you for your sweet letter. I had a very busy day at the office or I would have come to see you. P.T.O.

[Transcriber’s note: Page break in original.]

–I hope to be down next week and then I will tell you all about my work; but I have a lot more to do now, and so I must say good-bye. Your loving UNCLE.”

There is perhaps nothing in that which demands an immediate answer, but with business-like promptitude Margery replied:

“MY DEAR UNCLE thank you for your letter I am glad you are coming next week baby is quite well now are you p t o coming on Thursday next week or not say yes if you are I am p t o sorry you are working so hard from your loving MARGIE.”

I said “Yes,” and that I was her loving uncle. It seemed to be then too late for a “P.T.O.,” but I got one in and put on the back, “Love to Baby.” The answer came by return of post:

“MY DEAR UNCLE thank you for your letter come erly on p t o Thursday come at half past nothing baby sends her love and so do p t o I my roking horse has a sirrup broken isnt that a pity say yes or no good-bye from your loving MARGIE.”

Of course I thanked Baby for her love and gave my decision that it was a pity about the rocking-horse. I did it in large capitals, which (as I ought to have said before) is the means of communication between Margery and her friends. For some reason or other I find printing capitals to be more tiring than the ordinary method of writing.

“MY DEAR UNCLE,” wrote Margery–

But we need not go into that. What I want to say is this: I love to get letters, particularly these, but I hate writing them, particularly in capitals. Years ago I used to answer Margery’s letter for her. It is now her turn to answer mine for me.