I always like, too, the cheeriness of the chestnut
and peanut ovens of the Italians; the pleasant smell and friendly smoke
that rise from them suggest a simple and homelike life which there are so
any things in this great, weary, heedless city to make one forget.
XII
But I am allowing myself to wander too far from Mrs. Makely and her
letter, which reached me only two days before Thanksgiving.
"MY DEAR MR. HOMOS,--Will you give me the pleasure of your company at
dinner, on Thanksgiving-day, at eight o'clock, very informally. My
friend, Mrs. Bellington Strange, has unexpectedly returned from Europe
within the week, and I am asking a few friends, whom I can trust to
excuse this very short notice, to meet her.
With Mr. Makely's best regards,
Yours cordially,
DOROTHEA MAKELY.
The Sphinx,
November the twenty sixth,
Eighteen hundred and
Ninety-three."
I must tell you that it has been a fad with the ladies here to spell out
their dates, and, though the fashion is waning, Mrs.
Pages:
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93