[Hartford, 26 July 1886]
Dear House --
I have come up to the study to answer you. Mrs. C. & I had just read your (no, Koto's) letter. As I left, I said "What shall I say for you?"
"That I am on my knees."
It doesn't wholly express her shame & sorrow & humiliation for forgetting to send those measurements, but it helps. Blamed if we don't forget every-thing, it seems to me. We live in shame; & yet are not hardened. We feel as sharply & blush as red as we used to do in our earlier days when we did remember something now & then. Koto is a saint -- but we knew that before; & don't expect anything but saintliness out of her; she is built that way, & it probably comes in a manner easy to her: but how is it you don't fly out? Is the whole family laying for canonization?
Indeed it was a shame & a pity; but Mrs. Clemens always has her hands so full that I always think her excusable when she forgets a thing. She is the only one in the tribe who ever does remember.
We are hoping the dress will get here in time, to-day.
I didn't forget to send that lingo-letter; I merely misunderstood Mrs. Clemens; I thought she had concluded to send it herself. I must explain that "Tom" is a girl -- Daisy Warner -- who plays "Tom Canty" when the children do the Prince & Pauper private theatricals. Susy is rather gushy, but I suppose it's the natural thing for 14-year-olders. They seem to run a good deal to italics & double adjectives; & even then they appear to think they have but coldly expressed themselves.
Here is love to you both, from us all, & thanking you for your fine leniency --
Mark [written over SLC]