don't care a rap for Todd, but he
hates to see him carrying my books!

Miss Nita says I must call her simply "Nita" now, but it is hard to
change. Mr. Randolph sometimes calls her "Princess," and she
always smiles and blushes--I wonder why! "Princess" just fits her,
doesn't it? He declares he shall feel slighted if I don't call him
"Nelson"! As if I would--that dignified man! Nita insists that he
isn't dignified one bit, but I don't agree with her. Anyway, I
shan't leave off the "Mr." to-day! They were only gone a week. I
go over there nearly every day. The house has been altered a good
deal. A beautiful, big veranda, or addition, has been built off
the dining-room, sides all glass, and heated so that it can be used
in the coldest weather. I ate dinner there last week. Nita has
two servants, so she doesn't have to work hard. There is a new
music room, too, out of the hall, with a magnificent new piano in
it! Miss Nita enjoys that. Oh, I forgot to tell you that they are
going to have a piano at the Home! Mrs. Winslow Teed is delighted.
And they have new china for the table. Miss Churchill couldn't
stand that old heavy stuff, and the good had all been broken. You
wouldn't know the place. The ladies can go and come as they
please, making a note of where they are going, or not, just as they
choose. There are hardly any rules, and visitors are allowed every
afternoon between two o'clock and six. I guess Mr. Randolph means
to make up to them for all they have suffered through Miss Sniffen.
One thing I am glad of! The ladies have some new dresses! And
Mrs. Crump and Miss Castlevaine have new winter coats. They were
the worst dressed of anybody, as they had been there longest. And
I am almost gladdest of this,--each lady has five dollars a month
for spending money! They are expected to buy their own shoes and
stockings and gloves and neckwear and hats; but they'll have plenty
left for themselves.

Mrs. Albright's birthday comes next week, and we are planning a big
time. But the cream of the birthdays comes next summer, when we
expect to celebrate June Holiday's birthday. It will be a grand
outdoor affair. Some of the ladies have chosen their parts
already. Everybody is to represent something in a June day, and
the children--trustees' and managers' children, you know--are going
to be butterflies and bumblebees. They want me to be Morning--in
light pink. Miss Crilly is going to be South Wind--w