Chapter 6

Louisa, Fred and Bobby arrived at Matthew and Amanda's house for supper just before six. Bobby was hardly in the front door before he asked permission to spend the night at Fred's house, saying "I know we're leavin' tomorrow, Miss Manda, but the train don't -doesn't – go until ten, and I'll be home before then. Please may I stay over with Fred?"

"Yes, Bobby, you may. I assume this plan is acceptable to you, Louisa?"

"Oh, yes! I was really hoping that Fred would make friends in Washington quickly, so I'm very happy for them to spend time together," Louisa said.

"That's all right, then. And as for leaving tomorrow, Matthew and I have decided to wait until Monday to leave. We can use the extra days before you have to start your job at the War Department to help you get settled here in Washington."

"You're changing your plans on my account? Oh, Amanda, you really don't have to do that!" Louisa said.

"Louisa, everyone needs a little help sometimes; there's no shame in accepting that help. I know you want to stand on your own two feet, but until you find your feet, let us help you," Amanda said firmly.

"I will, and thank you. Oh, I knew I was making the right decision to come here, and what happened today – with all the help that Robert and you and Matthew and even your mother and Captain West gave me, without making me feel silly or, well..." she left the sentence unfinished.

"Like a backward child?" Amanda asked gently.

"Yes. That's exactly it."

She glanced at Fred as if unwilling to say more, but he said, "Mother, I know how Grandmother and Grandfather treated you, and 'backward child' is right on the mark. We had to get out of there before… well, we had to leave, that's all."

"Yes. Very well, then, we accept your offer of help, Amanda."

"Good. Tomorrow, Matthew is going to wire his parents to tell him we're delaying our trip until Monday, and since we have to go into town to do that, we'll go on the streetcar so you can learn your way around that way."

"Could you show me where the War Department is, Matthew?"

"Of course. Who signed the letter offering you the job?"

"General Montgomery Meigs, the Quartermaster General."

"Ah. Well, it's a simple matter to take you to his office and introduce you so you'll know where to report next week."

"Oh, that would be very helpful. I've been told that I should wear very practical frocks in broadcloth or some other sturdy fabric, and that I should have long linen cuffs to go over my sleeves to protect them from ink blots, but all I have is these black bombazine frocks we ordered after Will was killed. Mother Stetson wouldn't hear of ordering anything less expensive; she said it wasn't in keeping with our station in life, but if I go to work in something like this, I'm afraid I'll look like I'm putting on airs."

"I have some black broadcloth frocks I can give you; I had them made up for everyday wear after Jim was killed. I think they'll fit you with a few minor alterations, and I know someone who can do those at a very reasonable cost," Amanda said, thinking of Francine Desmond's former employee Alma Dennis, now owner of her own shop. "She can make up the long cuffs, too."

Pleading tiredness, even after their rest earlier in the day, Louisa and Fred made their excuses just after seven-thirty and took Bobby with them. Matthew offered to have Curtis drive them home or walk home with them, but Louisa declined.

"We'll be fine, thank you, Matthew; it's only a few blocks, and I have the boys with me. I'd back them against any cutpurse, especially after the way Robert dealt with that wagon driver earlier today."

When they were gone, Matthew asked, "Well, my love, since we don't have to leave town tomorrow and our very busy foster child has gone off to spend the night with his friend, what shall we do for the rest of the evening?"

"I could knit socks."

"You could, certainly."

"I could make list of all the things I need to tell Louisa."

"You could also do that."

"Or we could just go upstairs and go to bed."

"Oh, I like that idea best of all."

"I thought you would."

"Mother, I'm really not that tired," Fred said as he, Louisa and Bobby walked the short distance to their new home.

"I know, Fred. I was just being tactful. Major and Mrs. Davis are newlyweds, and newlyweds like to spend time alone together."

"Th' major promised me a baby brother, y'see, Fred," Bobby explained. "You do know where babies come from, doncha?"

Louisa, imagining the palpitations her very proper mother-in-law would have had at this remark, giggled.

"Ma'am?" Bobby said.

"I was just thinking that if Fred's Grandmother Stetson heard you ask him that question, she'd faint dead away," she said.

"Oh. Why? They're married, and married people have babies. That's what they're s'posed to do, ain't – isn't – it?"

"Yes, of course, but the elder Mrs. Stetson is scandalized by any mention of the natural order of things, you see."

"Ma'am?"

"Mother means that my grandmother likes to pretend that babies just show up by magic," Fred said.

"Well, that's just silly."

"Yes, it is silly, Bobby," Louisa agreed, "but then Euphemia Stetson is very silly."

"Well, I guess so. Ma'am, since we don't have to go to sleep right away, what are we going to do?"

"Well, now that you have permission to spend the night at our house, we need to go over and get your things for the night, and there are some things I need to ask Captain and Mrs. West. I don't think they know that Matthew and Amanda have decided to postpone their trip, so we'll need to tell them that, too."

"Yes'm."

"And by the time we do all that, it will probably be time to go back to the house and go to sleep."

"Yes'm."