Florence Hurlbird 59
I had expected to find the Misses Hurlbird excessively old – in the nineties of thereabouts. The time had passed so slowly that I had the impression that it must have been thirty years since I had been in the United States. It was only twelve years. Actually Miss Hurlbird was just sixty-one and Miss Florence Hurlbird fifty-nine, and they were both, mentally and physically, as vigorous as could be desired. They were, indeed, more vigorous, mentally, than suited my purpose, which was to get away from the United States as quickly as I could. The Hurlbirds were an exceedingly united family – exceedingly united except on one set of points. Each of the three of them had a separate doctor, whom they trusted implicitly – and each had a separate attorney. And each of them distrusted the other’s doctor and the other’s attorney. And, naturally, the doctors and the attorneys warned one all the time – against each other. You cannot imagine how complicated it all became for me.