4 February 1881 • Hartford, Conn. (MS: NPV, UCCL 01189)
Ella Lampton doesn’t like me; & it is natural that this feeling should be inherited by the daughter. I have no feeling toward Ella (now) but compassion for her bereavements & hard fortune, & admiration of her courage & spirit in facing disaster with a brave front. However, what I am coming at, is this. We would like to ask the daughter to come here with Annie & spend a week with us—but I don’t wish to extend the invitation if it is likely to be responded to with an affront. Doubtless, with a trifle of ingenuity, you could find out from the daughter, when she c how it would be received—& then hint to me whentherⒶemendation I had better extend the invitation of or keep judiciously still. Understand?
Love to Ma & all.
Of course I only want to know how the daughter would receive it—don’t wish it submitted to Ella in any form, indirect or otherwise.
MS, Jean Webster McKinney Family Papers, Special Collections, NPV.
MTBus, 136; MicroPUL, reel 2.
See McKinney Family Papers in Description of Provenanceclick to open link.