[Mrs. Packard, widow of the founder of the Packard School] took a fancy to me and had me as her private secretary. . . . until I graduated; and then when I graduated was the week that Auntie was coming out east. She had lost her mother, and my mother went out to get her. And I couldn't go for graduation. And Mrs. Packard sent me a most beautiful bunch, equal to two ordinary bunches, of English violets for my graduation, and she also wrote me a note that if I could possibly come down, she'd like to have me as her guest at her home. (H.D.: did you?) No, I couldn't. She was very lovely, and one of the girls who did graduate brought me my bunch of violets and gave me the next day. My mother and Auntie were coming early the next morning and I was to meet the train and I couldn't stay all night with her. . . . it did mean a lot to me and Mrs. Packard wanted me to come to her house and stay all night even when she found my mother was away. I sort of regret that I didn't take it in my own hands and go.

And then I missed out on my graduation from grammar and from high school even; I was too far advanced when they put . . . Regents [exams] into high school in Haverstraw; I was too far advanced and I was in second year high when they put it in and so I never graduated from grade into first-year high. Cause when they graded it differently and the Regents came along I was too far along. So I missed out on that graduation. . . . we all did.