A Visit by Michael Ceraolo

from Twenty-Three to Twenty-One

Interlude:  A Visit

August 20th, 1882  8 PM

The President of the United States

pays a call to 46 East 74th Street

New York, New York

to see the woman who has written him letters

In parentheses are things thought but not spoken

Ms. Sand:

(Why can't I seem to find anything to say?)

Arthur:

You ought to have known I was coming

Ms Sand:

(Why does the rest of the family ask him so many questions?

Why won't they leave us alone?)

Are you fond of music?

Arthur:

"Reasonably"

Ms. Sand:

(He is not making conversation easy)

Some talk of politics

Arthur:

You shouldn't believe everything you read in the newspapers

And then the hour for the visit was up

Arthur, to the rest of the family as he was leaving:

Your sister thinks I should be an angel

Ms. Sand:

(I will have to say in letters what I couldn't say here)