Elsie, rather afraid that her own determination might weaken, decided to write to him, sending the letter to his home address.
Her unformed, back-sloping hand, covered one side of a sheet of notepaper that she bought in the luncheon hour.
“Dear Mr. Williams,
“One line to tell you that I have thought over your very kind suggestion about a holiday, but do not feel that I can say yes to same. Dear Mr. Williams, it is very kind of you, but I cannot feel it would be right of me to do as you ask, and so I must say no, hoping you will not be vexed with me. I do want to be a good girl. So no more, from
“Your little friend,
“Elsie.”
VIII
It took Elsie exactly three months to bring Mr. Williams to the point predicted by Irene Tidmarsh.
During that time she was quiet, and rather timid, scrupulously exact in saying “sir” and very careful never to be heard laughing or chattering with Fred Leary.
Williams at first made no allusion to her note. When at last he spoke of it, he did so very much in his ordinary manner.
“I was sorry to get your little note the other day, Elsie, and to see that you don’t quite trust me after all.”