Finding Life

Mrs. Van Der Bilt's Plans

                                                                                  (1)

Dearest Philip,

I hope this letter finds you and the family in good health.I apologize to you for not getting back to you on our previous conversation because there were more urgent matters to be dealt with.

As you know Madeleine has recovered from her illness.Doctors say that weakness will remain for sometime which means she would need more care because there maybe a chance she might get sick again.

I am beyond worried for her as she is not eating well and hardly ever comes out of her room.She never leaves the house and it has been three weeks now.She hardly ever talks or sits with us.Her father seems to think its a phase which will pass but I do not believe it will.I write to you to ask for your help in this regard.I think it is time Madeleine goes back to England, where she feels a sense of familiarity with family and friends being around.Also a change of scene would be good for her health.

She may find everyone there to be a bit more compelling than I am.I trust you and mamma with this responsibility.I would appreciate if you would not discuss Madeleine's situation with everyone and will just make up an excuse for her stay with you.She will stay will you till November of next year when we move back home.

I cannot send her to Scotland to stay with her uncle as I suspect they are not very understanding of her situation and she may not find herself to be in a different environment than she is now.

I sincerely hope you accept my proposition and let Madeleine stay with you.

Your Loving Sister,

Elsie

                                                                               (2)

30th July, 1909

Mr. Van Der Bilt returns home at 5:30 in the evening and finds the butler Mr. Evans at the door.

He tells him that Mrs. Van Der Bilt is waiting in the library as it is an urgent matter and she wants to speak with him before she heads out for a dinner.

Mr. Van Der Bilt enters the library and finds his wife there.

'Cornelius I need to speak with you', she says with a stern expression.

'What is the matter?', he replies.

'You have been constantly ignoring my pleas to help Madeleine and this time I have decided to do something on my own, just remember this is not a permission, I am simply informing you of my plans for her'.

'Dear God Elsie what is it?'.

'I have written to mamma and Philip and I have asked if Madeleine can stay with them until we move back home'.

'Why them?..I mean if you are going to send our daughter away why not send her to my brother's house in Scotland? I mean it is her family home..it is where she was born', he was on the verge of shouting now.

'You really don't know your daughter at all do you?'

'What is that suppose to mean?', he asks in an irritating tone.