Jan. 12, '94

Livy darling, I came down from Hartford yesterday with Kipling, and

he and Hutton and I had the small smoking compartment to ourselves and

found him at last at his ease, and not shy. He was very pleasant company

indeed. He is to be in the city a week, and I wish I could invite him to

dinner, but it won't do. I should be interrupted by business, of course.

The construction of a contract that will suit Paige's lawyer (not Paige)

turns out to be very difficult. He is embarrassed by earlier advice

to Paige, and hates to retire from it and stultify himself. The

negotiations are being conducted, by means of tedious long telegrams and

by talks over the long-distance telephone. We keep the wires loaded.

Dear me, dinner is ready. So Mrs. Rice says.

With worlds of love,

Mark Twain's Letters — Complete (1853-1910) · 第 240 / 341 题