moral family. They both have a sense of humor and
ACCOMPLISHING characters, or I should never have dared to propose it.
And really I believe it's going to be the one way of taming our young
fire-eater. They will furnish the affection and caresses and attention
that in his whole abused little life he has never had.

They live in a fascinating old house with an Italian garden, and
furnishings selected from the whole round world. It does seem like
sacrilege to turn that destructive child loose in such a collection of
treasures. But he hasn't broken anything here for more than a month, and
I believe that the Italian in him will respond to all that beauty.

I warned them that they must not shrink from any profanity that might
issue from his pretty baby lips.

He departed last night in a very fancy automobile, and maybe I wasn't
glad to say good-by to our disreputable young man! He has absorbed just
about half of my energy.

Friday.

The pendant arrived this morning. Many thanks! But you really ought not
to have given me another; a hostess cannot be held accountable for all
the things that careless guests lose in her house. It is far too
pretty for my chain. I am thinking of having my nose pierced, Cingalese
fashion, and wearing my new jewel where it will really show.

I must tell you that our Percy is putting some good constructive work
into this asylum. He has founded the John Grier Bank, and has worked
out all the details in a very professional and businesslike fashion,
entirely incomprehensible to my non-mathematical mind. All of the older
children possess properly printed checkbooks, and they are each to be
paid five dollars a week for their services, such as going to school and
accomplishing housework. They are then to pay the institution (by check)
for their board and clothes, which will consume their five dollars. It
looks like a vicious circle, but it's really very educative; they will
comprehend the value of money before we dump them into a mercenary
world. Those who are particularly good in lessons or work will receive
an extra recompense. My head aches at the thought of the bookkeeping,
but Percy waves that aside as a mere bagatelle. It is to be accomplished
by our prize arithmeticians, and will train them for positions of trust.
If Jervis hears of any opening for bank officials, let me know; I shall
have a well-trained president, cashier, and paying teller ready to be
placed by this time next year.