_You are to go to kindergarten which you will enjoy. You will only go for the mornings and you will have to learn all sorts of jolly things—music and painting and writing. Then you’ll be able to write to Mother. I’m sure you’ll be good and work hard, so that when Mother comes home at Christmas, you’ll be able to show her what a clever boy she has. You would like to be in this beautiful place. As I write I can see such lovely hills and fields and lakes and mountains. I hope darling Stella is learning to say all sorts of interesting things. I can’t find any nice present to send you from here, so I’ve told Nanny that you and she can go and buy two canaries, one for you and one for Stella—a boy canary and a girl canary. Won’t that be fun? Love and kisses from_ _Mother_ . Michael sat in a dream when the letter was finished. It had raised so many subjects for discussion and was so wonderful that he could scarcely speak. “Will mother really come home at Christmas?” he asked. “You heard what I said.” “Christmas!” he sighed happily. “Aren’t you glad to go to school?” Nurse wanted to know. “Yes, but I’d like Christmas to come,” he said. “Was there ever in this world anyone so hard to please?” Nurse apostrophized. “When will we go to get these canaries, Nanny?” “Plenty of time. Plenty of time.” “Soon, will we?” “One more question and there’ll be no canaries at all,” said Nurse.