sympathetic and very well written. This was to disarm
one another's mind of the suspicion that its last page
was doubtfully daughterly.

"In view of what are now your very limited resources,
I am sure dear mother, you will understand my
unwillingness to make any additional drain upon them,
as I should do if I followed your wishes and came
home. I am convinced of my ability to support myself,
and I am not coming home. To avoid giving you the pain
of repeating your request, and the possibility of your
sending me money which you cannot afford to spare, I
have decided not to let you know my whereabouts until
I can write to you that I am in an independent position.
I will only say that I am leaving Paris, and that no
letters sent to this address will be forwarded. I
sincerely hope you will not allow yourself to be in
any way anxious about me, for I assure you that there
is not the slightest need. With much love to papa and
yourself,

"Always your affectionate daughter,

"ELFRIDA.

"P.S.--I hope your asthma has again succumbed
to Dr. Paley."