the coat, like Potiphar's wife, and pulled him back to the authorizing
berry-sprig and gave him a brazen big smack on the cheek-bone. He
turned a sunset pink, at that, and marched out of the room without
saying a word. But he was shaking his head as he went, at my
shamelessness, I suppose. Poor old Gershom! I wish there were more men
in the world like him. The other day Susie intimated that he was too
homosexual and that it was the polygamous wretches who really kept the
world going. But I refuse to subscribe to that sophomoric philosophy
of hers which would divide the race into fools and knaves. "It's safer
being sane than mad; it's better being good than bad!" as Robert
remarked. And I know at least one strong man who is not bad; and one
bad man who is not strong.

_Tuesday the Twenty-Seventh_

The great Day has come and gone. And I'm not sorry. There was a cloud
over my heart that kept me from getting the happiness out of it I
ought. I hoped we would hear from Peter, but for the first time in
history he overlooked us.

Dinky-Dunk, as he had warned us, could not get home for the holidays.
But he surprised me by sending a really wonderful box for the kiddies,
and even a gorgeous silver-mounted collar for Scotty. Susie is up
again, but she is still feeling a bit listless. I heard Gershom
informing her to-night that her blood travels at the rate of seven
miles per hour and that if all the energy of Niagara Falls were
utilized it could supply the world with seven million horse-power. I
do wish Gershom would get over trying to pat the world on the head,
instead of shaking hands with it! I'm afraid I'm losing my lilt. I
can't understand why I should keep feeling as blue as indigo. I am a
well of acid and a little sister to the crab-apple. I think I'll make
Susie come down so we can humanize ourselves with a little music. For
I feel like a Marie Bashkirtseff with a bilious attack....

Whinstane Sandy has just come in with Peter's box, two days late. I
felt sure that Peter would not utterly forget us. There is still a
great deal of shouting down in the kitchen, where that most miraculous
of boxes has been unpacked. As for myself, I've had a hankering to be
alone, to think things over. But my meditations don't seem to get me
anywhere.... Dinkie has just come up to show me his brand-new bridle
for Buntie. It is a magnificent bridle, as shiny and jingly as any lad
could desire. I tried to get him to put it down, so