Of course I had to go & make another dam mistake—I couldn’t fail, with an opportunity at hand: invited you to spend several days with us at the farm, not remembering that when we are there it takes every bed in the house to hold our gang. Mrs. Clemens was unspeakably distressed over my blunder, & wondered how I could ever explain it so that Col. Waring would not be offended. I said “I don’t know what a woman’s method might be of explaining such a thing; but I know a man’s method: which is, to simply come out with the facts—thunder & lightning, they explain themselves!”

She wanted to know if that would satisfy you? I said it would satisfy an angel—& you were neither more nor less.

Then she said I must at least require you to spend your nights at her mother’s house down town & give us your days at the farm. All right, then, that is what I do require of you; & we will fetch you up, mornings, & tote you back evenings, & insure you a perfectly lovely time. Will you do that?—& will you forgive the blunderer?

Cable went before the young girls, yesterday A.M.; I launched him with some cheerful chaff, he got out his Parson Jones, & by George he just simply carried the house by storm. It is the most variegated & bully story for

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