Therefore, feeling myself melting unduly on the Irish question, I fly
while there is yet time.

Much love, old dear!

JANE.

_December 8th._

That was a silly screed, yesterday, Sally dearest, but getting it off
my chest was a great relief. And at that it wasn't a complete
confession. There was another reason for a strategic retreat. The
other reason was Rodney Harrison. Yes, the House of Harrison has
capitulated, handsomely, lavishly, Mater and Pater as well, but I'm
very sure that I can never be theirs. Just as I feel that Michael
Daragh is too good for me, so do I feel that Rodney Harrison is not
quite good enough! I mean by that not quite concerned enough with
drying the world's tears. With--as G.B.S. says--"a character that
needs looking after as much as my own," I feel I should have some one
a little less Philistine than the cheerful Rodney. At any rate, I
needed perspective on the whole situation, and who knows but I shall
meet my nice new fate on this romantic pilgrimage? (Sounds more like
eighteen than twenty-eight, doesn't it?) But, seriously, I've been so
constantly with Michael Daragh and Rodney in these four years that I
know every dip and spur, every line and leaf of their mental scenery;
fresh fields and pastures new are what I need. And "one meets so many
delightful people in traveling--" as witness the good Budders and
their niece, Miss Vail ('sh ... they say she's a _writer_!)

Something, which is to say, some_body_, may turn up at any moment.

Yours, Micawber-ing,

J.

P.S. I trust you won't expect to glean any useful information or
statistics about Mexico from these chronicles? The Budders are deep
in histories and guidebooks but I know not whether the _Chichimecs_
were people or pottery and I hope I never shall!

P.S. II. Cousin Dudley, having just returned from the smoker, reports
chatting with a most interesting young civil engineer----

_December 9th._

We are now so late, Sally dear, that we have lost all social
standing; we slink into sidings and wait in shame for prompt and
proper trains to bustle by. But I don't mind. At this rate I shall be
able to converse rippingly in Spanish by the time we reach
Guadalajara. Cousin Dudley knows a professor person there who will
help us to plan our trip.

Spanish is deliciousl