I am not angry with you for saying what you do about setting me free. How could I be anything but grateful for an offer that is so kindly meant and so delicately made?
To ease you of your kind fears on my account, let me tell you that I have always been happy with Miss Langley; and that, during this month, I shall have little work and plenty of leisure.
I look forward to receiving another letter from you on Monday.
SUSAN BRIGGS.
"It's beautiful, Miss!" said Susan dejectedly, after she had perused my effort. And she sat looking up into the sky, the picture of disappointment and indecision. I went to the rescue.
"Say what's in your mind, Susan. There's a 'but,' isn't there? It's beautiful, but ... what?"
"I was thinking," confessed Susan blushfully, "that it isn't..."
"Isn't what?"
"It isn't ... very loving."
"Loving?" I said. "What do you mean? Why, here you are, spending a month deciding whether you can try to care for Lord Ruddington or not. It isn't time yet to be 'loving.'"