Boston, June 14, 1925
Dear Mary,
summer has come here over the last couple of weeks. It's lovely weather and I miss working outdoors more than ever. It's hot and sticky in my office and even if I look out my window, I can't make out the sky between the tall buildings in this street.
I use every opportunity to take Sybbie to the park when I get home in the late afternoon. There's a nice park between Cathy's house and our flat and we love feeding the ducks there. I think they must be double their normal size, counting the amount of old bread they get from Sybbie. She even named them all and talks to them, it's so cute when you listen to her! You better won't tell her about a pony though, she would leave me in an instant and come to Downton in a blink. She has the most tender heart and loves all animals and small children, her poor father wouldn't stand a chance against a living, breathing pony!
In the park she always looks out and takes good care of the little ones, too, she is so sweet. I know, most parents will say that of their children, but I really adore my little girl. It's great to spend the afternoons with her, I learn new things about her every day. There are always other parents with their children in the park, but it seems I'm the only single father in the whole of Boston, because all I ever see are pairs of parents. It's a pity you and George aren't here, I wouldn't feel like such an oddity.
You're asking about "Cathy's mission"? She's still not successful, but I must admit I caved a little bit and had lunch with one of her friends recently. Her name is Miss Orlaith O'Connor and she is a midwife. She is indeed a very nice, young woman and – I must add – very pretty, too. When I met her first at Liam and Cathy's house, we talked about Sybil and how she died and she knew a lot about eclampsia, so I asked her, if she would have lunch with me to talk about it and to ask her some questions I had and she agreed. It was a very upsetting conversation, but also healing in a way. I 've never talked to Dr. Clarkson about Sybil, since I was too devastated back then and so I never really found out what happened with her that night. Orlaith explained eclampsia to me and told me that it is a very rare condition and that in a severe case like Sybil's it's almost always deadly.
I'm not sure we will go out again though, because it was clear that it was no romantic intention behind my invitation, but of course Cathy is delighted and hopeful now, so I'm sure she will try to find a way to throw me and Miss O'Connor together somehow and I won't even mind much. Not because I changed my mind about being "on the look", or because I have a romantic interest in her, but because I'm still lacking friends here and I've decided that has to change. I do have a lot of "acquaintances", but I miss having people around me with whom I can have more than just small talk. Liam and Cathy are very nice to me and they try to include me into their circle of friends as best as they can, but their interests and mine are very different. Liam reminds me a bit of your uncle Harold. He is a real businessman, very amiable, very realistic, very smart. There's not much idealism in him or much sentiment and – I'm afraid - too much of both in me for his taste. I miss someone to talk about the deeper sense in life instead of talking about the next business deal, money and how to spend it.
Liam is very satisfied with how our land-machine branch has developed in just half a year though and is actually thinking about expanding it next year. I'm very proud that a big part of it's success is my work. I've been lucky of course with some of my sales, but nonetheless it is a good feeling that I'm good at what I'm doing here!
Glad to hear about the Bates! I've never understood why they could even think, that Anna had something to do with Mr. Greene's death? Why should she? She's one of the best persons I know and she barely knew the man! Why in heaven's name would she have killed him?
I envy you for your week with the Sinderbys. Not because I'm so keen on meeting Lord Sinderby and his snobbish Butler again, but to spend a whole week walking in the beautiful nature and talking to you all sounds like heaven. Yes, it seems to be true: Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Even wearing the white tie tails doesn't sound too bad when it would bring me home to you all for a few weeks.
So how was your week with Henry? Any news on that front? You know I'm just teasing you, do you? I really wish you happiness from the bottom of my heart, but I must also admit, I'm a little afraid of the "happy announcement", that will no doubt come one day. You and I we've become so close over the years, I have the very egoistical fear to lose some of your friendship to another man. From this point of view it might be good that I'm here in America. Which future husband of yours would want a brother in law living nearby who is his wife's best friend and who's grown used to confide in her and she in him?
I'm looking forward to hear a bit of gossip from your visit. I hope you had a lovely time and much stories to tell.
Love
Tom