"I must say, I'd no idea life could be at all like this! When I think of how we all stodged away through the days at Bridgecrap, and thought ourselves quite happy! Doesn't it all seem a long way off?
"Well, my hand is getting frightfully tired, so I must end as quick as I can.
"I told Mother next morning, and I must say she was very nice, and he came round and they had a long jaw, and seemed to hit it off very well together. Mother wrote her usual reams to Father, and pretended that it all depended on him, but of course we knew it was all right the minute she approved.
"I haven't got a ring yet, but Father is coming up here, or we're going home early next week—it isn't yet decided which—after that we can be properly engaged. Of course we really are, now, but we pretend to think we're not, to please Mother, et cetera. Frank luckily has no relations except his sister. I am dying for you to know him, he is so awfully nice, and we're simply too happy for words. Do write a long answer to this.
"Best love from
"Dorothy.
"P.S.—I feel rather a selfish pig for writing all about myself, but I knew you'd want to hear the really interesting parts. I hope you're having a heavenly time too, with your one, but of course you are. Your house looks simply ripping. Frank and I will probably live abroad in bungalows and things when we're married, and not be a bit rich."
Happiness had positively endowed Dorothy with descriptive powers hitherto unsuspected in her.
Lily felt excited and pleased, and oddly sad, all at once. She read Dorothy's letter over again.
Not a word about handy-pandy, footy-wootie and eyesie-pysie! Lily could not help wondering whether these adjuncts to courtship had been dispensed with. She was inclined to hope so. Dorothy's happiness was, evidently enough, above the realm of trivialities.