Private Correspondences of Mimsy Hargreaves 2

The Honorable Mrs. Gerald Vandovener
Rose Cottage, Campbell House
36 Hadley
Goddards Green, Sussex
Angleland

Maman,

Oh Tragedy!

You will not believe it, maman, but I have the most Dredful news. My Tea with Mina, Lady Chester, has been Postponed Indefinitely. As you may expect, I am nearly inconsolable. I have sent Harold out for a bottle of Whiskey and am taking it by the Teaspoonful. One per Ten Minutes, as I cannot get Mrs. Landower's Notable Tonic here in this abominable floating city! Mrs. Grabapple has kindly suggested a Local variant Confectio Alchermes, which she would grind with raw silk and rose water to improve my spirits, and I shall send Harold out for Ingredients first thing I assure you.

It has all come about most Calamitously. Some foolish Girl who weaseled her way into the Society I hope to join has gone and got herself killed. I had a most Solicitous letter from Lady Chester, who is so tender that she is Overcome, and has cancelled all her appointments, including Mine. I do not see what this Murder has to do with anything or why Lady Chester should not go on and host our Tea, as surely she must still have tea Regardless of the wailings of the locals.

Perhaps some black bunting on the Tea cakes to make a note of mourning, but one can Hardly be expected to hide Mournfully in one's rooms every time an acquaintance Passes beyond the Veil of Mortality. Harold thinks I am most unfeeling, but as you can see I Feel this quite acutely!

I determined that I must spend some of my Pin money on black ribbons that I might secure about my own upper Limb to show my Solidarity with Lady Chester and hired a Gondola (which is what you might call a water-gig, did you live Here in this Damp Slump, maman) to take me around to Campo San Paolo to purchase them. My Path took me past the Society two or Three times. Though I hoped that Someone might take note of my passing and Invite me inside I was Sadly disappointed.

Indeed I was so distraught (as it appeared that Two Ruffians of uncertain Character were admitted to the Palazzo from which I Myself was barred) that I nearly had an Attack and directed my Gondola back to the Pensionne, where Mrs. Grabapple gave me a double-dose of the whiskey tonic and told me about Alchermes. So I do not have my Ribbons, either.

I Pray I will be strong enough to make the Journey again tomorrow.

Pray for Me, maman!

Love,

Your Mimsie

The Lady Harold Hargreaves
Pensionne de Sebastiani
c/o Mrs. Millicent Grabapple
Rio Terà dei Pensieri, 345
0135 Venice, Italy