Ever since
I was in England I made up my mind to adopt you as my own child.
You are very like my brother John, and your letters and all I have
heard of you show that you have grown up just as he would have
wished you to do. Your sister Helena is your mother's child, and,
without wishing to hurt your feelings, your mother and I have nothing
in common. I regard you as the only relation I have in the world,
and whether you come out or whether you do not, whatever I leave
behind me will be yours. I do hope that you will at any rate come
out for a time. Later on, if you don't like the life here, you can
fall back upon your own plan.
"If you decide to come, write to my agent. I inclose envelope
addressed to him. Tell him when you can be ready. He will put you
in the way of the people you had better go to for your outfit, will
pay all bills, take your passage, and so on.
"Whatever you do, do not stint yourself. The people you go to will
know a great deal better than you can do what is necessary for a
lady out here. All you will have to do will be to get measured and
to give them an idea of your likes and fancies as to colors and so
on. They will have instructions from my agent to furnish you with
a complete outfit, and will know exactly how many dozens of everything
are required.
"I can see no reason why you should not start within a month after
the receipt of this letter, and I shall look most anxiously for a
letter from you saying that you will come, and that you will start by
a sailing ship in a month at latest from the date of your writing.
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