finally, as a relief to her hard-worked invention, she got to adding imaginary clothes to Jean’s wardrobe, and probably would have doubled it and trebled it if a warning note in her mother’s comments had not admonished her that she was spending more money on these spectral gowns and things than the family income justified.

Some portions of detailed accounts of Clara’s busy days of this period, as written at the time by Clemens to Twichell and to Mrs. Crane, are eminently worth preserving.  To Mrs. Crane: 

Clara does not go to her Monday lesson in New York today [her mother having seemed not so well through the night], but forgets that fact and enters her mother’s room (where she has no business to be) toward train-time dressed in a wrapper.

Livy.  Why, Clara, aren’t you going to your lesson?  Clara (almost caught).  Yes.  L. In that costume?  CL.  Oh no.  L. Well, you can’t make your train; it’s impossible.  CL.  I know, but I’m going to take the other one.  L. Indeed that won’t do—­you’ll be ever so much too late for your lesson.  CL.  No, the lesson-time has been put an hour later.  L. (satisfied, then suddenly).  But, Clara, that train and the late lesson together will make you late to Mrs. Hapgood’s luncheon.  CL.  No, the train leaves fifteen minutes earlier than it used to.  L. (satisfied).  Tell Mrs. Hapgood, etc., etc., etc. (which Clara promises to do).  Clara, dear, after the luncheon—­I hate to put this on you—­but could you do two or three little shopping-errands for me?  CL.  Oh, it won’t trouble me a bit-I can do it. (Takes a list of the things she is to buy-a list which she will presently hand to another.)

    At 3 or 4 P.M.  Clara takes the things brought from New York,
    studies over her part a little, then goes to her mother’s room.

Livy.  It’s very good of you, dear.  Of course, if I had known it was going to be so snowy and drizzly and sloppy I wouldn’t have asked you to buy them.  Did you get wet?  CL.  Oh, nothing to hurt.  L. You took a cab both ways?  CL.  Not from the station to the lesson-the weather was good enough till that was over.  L. Well, now, tell me everything Mrs. Hapgood said.

Clara tells her a long yarn-avoiding novelties and surprises and anything likely to inspire questions difficult to answer; and of course detailing the menu, for if it had been the feeding of the 5,000 Livy would have insisted on knowing what kind of bread it was and how the fishes were served.  By and by, while talking of something else: 

Livy.  Clams!—­in the end of December.  Are you sure it was clams?  CL.  I didn’t say cl—–­I meant Blue Points.  L. (tranquilized).  It seemed odd.  What is Jean doing?  CL.  She said she was going to do a little typewriting.  L. Has she been out to-day?  CL.  Only a moment, right after luncheon.  She was determined