The Websters stopped in on their way back from seeing Eben, Sally all aglow with the good and informative time they had had, Tim a little cautious, I thought. I should go up and see Eben myself—he’ll be able to tell me just where to look for that Civil War stuff about the women who got together and lived at the Town Farm. I’ve always felt that the strength of the women in Willard stemmed from that experience. They found they could do all the men had done and survive. But what happened when the men came back? That’s the real story. But I guess it will never be told. It seems to me that Eben’s great-grandmother was one of them—could she have been? He might even have a journal. Jem has no idea what a hornet’s nest he is parceling out—or a Pandora’s box. I must say it’s an ideal way for me to spend the winter, if only we can stay here! Cornelius will feel awfully cut off, I’m afraid, but we could get some of the bank people up here surely. He made immense strides in the first two months. Now we have reached a plateau. I don’t see much change lately. He can just manage to eat by himself, but it is awfully hard for him to walk even a few steps. I feel he is afraid of falling. He leans on me very hard, one hand on my shoulder, and it’s like carrying a ton of bricks. The old knee doesn’t like it one bit. Getting him up to bed is a major operation. Sometimes I wonder if I could ask Mamzelle to come back and be with us.—Idiot! She’s much too old. It is so hard to imagine, but she must be nearing ninety.

She complains dreadfully of my not being in Boston, and I should somehow get down to see her one of these days. But how? Would Ellen come and hold the fort? I am simply not allowed by life at this point to be old or to give in, in any way, and I suppose that is a very good thing. The time when there was always Mamzelle to lean on, and Papa and Mamma—that’s all gone. It seems so strange. Now everyone leans on me, and I’m rather like the leaning tower of Pisa—apparently neither it nor I will ever be allowed to crumble, just stand up in a dangerous crooked way and hope for the best!