Thursday Morning
My Very Dearest Jervie-Daddy-Longlegs Pendleton-Smith,
Did you sleep last night? I didn't.
I was too excited and happy.
I don't think I'll ever sleep again!
But you must sleep, so that you can get well and visit me.
Yesterday was the most wonderful day of my life.
If I live to be 99, I'll never forget the tiniest detail.
The girl who left Lock Willow Farm yesterday morning was very different from the one who returned.
It was still dark when Mrs. Semple called me.
"Judy! It's half past four.
Time to wake up!
You've got a big day ahead of you."
I quickly got dressed and ran downstairs for breakfast.
"Are you excited about going to New York City?"
Mrs. Semple poured me a cup of coffee.
"Oh, yes! I'm going to see Daddy Longlegs!"
"Daddy Longlegs?" Mrs. Semple looked surprised.
"I mean Mr. Smith." I'd never told her my nickname for you.
I took the train to New York City.
When I arrived at your house, it looked so big and intimidating.
I didn't even dare to knock.
So I walked around the block to work up my nerve.
But I shouldn't have been afraid.
Your butler was such a nice, fatherly old man.
He made me feel right at home.
"Is this Miss Abbott?" he said right away.
So I didn't have to ask for Mr. Smith after all.
"Yes," I replied.
"He'll be very glad to see you."
Your butler nodded.
"Please wait here."
As I waited, I kept saying to myself, "I'm going to see Daddy Longlegs!
I'm going to see Daddy Longlegs!"
Soon the butler returned. "Please come upstairs to the library, miss."
I could barely contain my excitement as I followed him.
Outside the library door, the butler turned to me.
"He's been very ill, miss," the butler whispered.
"This is the first day he's been allowed to sit up.
You won't stay too long?
The doctor doesn't want him to get overexcited."
I could tell that your butler is very fond of you.
Then he knocked and said, "Miss Abbott is here."
I went into the library, and the door closed behind me.
The room was quite dim compared to the brightly lit hallway.
For a moment I could barely make out anything.
Then I saw a big easy chair in front of the fire.
There was a tea table with a smaller chair beside it.
I realized that a man was sitting in the big chair, propped up with pillows.
He had a blanket over his knees.
He started to stand up.
"Oh, please don't trouble yourself," I said. "Sit down."
But the man stood—rather shakily—and steadied himself with the chair.
He just looked at me without a word.
My hands flew to my face in amazement.
"Oh, Jervie! You're here!" I cried.
"Did Mr. Smith ask you to come?"
Then you laughed and held out your hand.
"My dear Judy," you said as I took your hand.
"Didn't you guess the truth? I am Daddy Longlegs."
"What?" In an instant I realized what was going on.
I sank onto a chair, heat flooding my face.
"Oh, I've been so stupid!
There were a hundred little clues, if I'd been paying attention."
I shook my head.
"I guess I wouldn't make a very good detective."
Jervie was grinning at me. "No, but I love you anyway."
"I love you too!"
You paused for a moment to steady yourself.
"I can't go down on one knee, but will you marry me?"
This time I didn't have to say no.
"Of course, Jervie!"
We spent a wonderful half hour together before your doctor came in.
"Please don't tire him, miss," the doctor said as he led me from the room.
"Though I must say you've done him a world of good.
He looks ten years younger."
I was so dazed that I could barely find my way to the train station.
And then I almost took a train for St. Louis!
You were pretty dazed yourself.
You forgot to give me tea!
But we're both so happy.
This morning I've been out walking to all the places we've been together.
I wish you were here to climb the hills with me.
I'm missing you dreadfully, Jervie dear.
But it's a happy kind of missing.
We'll soon be together for the rest of our lives.
At last I belong to someone.
That's a new feeling for me, and it's very sweet indeed.
Yours forever and ever,
Judy
P.S. This is the first love letter I've ever written.
I hope you like it.