July 17, 1859

June 17, 1859

Dear Safiya,

What happened?  Where were they going?  Really, how did he just appear out of thin air like that?  Please write back quickly.  I can’t wait!

Fine, fine, I shall give you details.  At first we just talked about the weather and how nice it has been lately, but then we talked about each other.  He moved from the east coast somewhere, I think New York.  He likes to canoe, which is unfortunate considering where he lives now.  Then he asked me about myself, and I told him and Grandmother and my parents.  I think he pities me now, and I hate that.  I don’t want to be pitied.

Yes, Anna is eccentric.  The very first thing she told me was, ‘You look like an untrustworthy lizard, so I’m going to trust you because I find that the most untrustworthy looking people can be trusted the most.’  I didn’t understand it.  Not at all.

Jamie and I barely got to talk while I was at his house, though, because his brother Alec was gone and he had to do more work in the fields, and he was always gone by the time I woke up and since I was so weak I always fell asleep before he came back.  I didn’t like that very much.

The MacJohns have been careful around me.  I think they don’t want me to be sick again, because they don’t want to have to take care of me.  Either that or you sent someone.  Did you?

Sincerely, Lucy