\"Simplythis,\"answeredRichard。\"ThatIknewofwhathadhappenedinNewYork,andwhenImethimthismorningIcowhidedhim。Ugh!\"
\"Well,thatwon’tdo,Dick。You’vegottotellallaboutit。Yourmotherwon’tunderstand。\"
\"Thenyouwritewhatyouplease,andreadittome。Itmakesmesicktothinkofit。\"Richardclosedhiseyes,andMarywrote:
\"DEARMOTHERKENTON,——IamsittingbyRichard,writingathisrequest,aboutwhathehasdone。HereceivedaletterfromNewYorktellinghimoftheBittridges’performancesthere,andhowthatwretchhadinsultedandabusedyouall。Heboughtacowhide;
meaningtogoovertoBallardsville,anduseitonhimthere,butB。