He wrote to Mary twice a week. He would have written every day, indeed, if Mary had allowed him; but the lady of his love more prudently remarked that Mrs. Tradescant would be tempted to inquire in that case as to the name and business of her constant correspondent: He wrote her frankly all his joys and griefs, and she in return quite as frankly sympathized with him. Boy and girl as they were, it was all very pleasant. To be sure, it was understood and arranged on both sides beforehand by the high contracting parties that these letters were to be taken as written on purely friendly grounds, and, as the lawyers say, 'without prejudice'; still, as time went on, they grew more and more friendly, until at last it would have required the critical eye of an expert in breach-of-promise cases to distinguish them at first sight from ordinary love-letters. Indeed, just once, towards the end of term, Dick went so far as to begin one short note, 'Dearest Mary,' which was precisely what he always called her to himself in his own pleasant day-dreams; and then he had the temerity to justify his action in so many words by pleading the precedent of this purely mental usage. But Mary promptly put a stop to such advances by severely beginning her reply, 'Dear Mr. Plantagenet'; though, to be sure, she somewhat spoilt the moral effect of so stern a commencement by confessing at once in the sequel that she had headed her first draught with a frank 'Dear Dick,' and then torn it up, after all, being ashamed to send it. When Dick read that deliciously feminine confession, consigned in blushing ink to fair white maiden notepaper, his heart gave a jump that might have been heard in Tom Quad, and his face grew as red as Mary's own when she penned it. CHAPTER IX. A SUDDEN RESOLVE. |Now, then, young gentlemen, choose your partners!' Mr. Plantagenet murmured with a bland and inane smile. ['Strike up the violin, Maud!' aside.) 'Bow, and fall into places. Eight bars before beginning. No, _not_ yet, Miss Tradescant. Explain to this young lady, _if_ you please, Miss Tudor, that she must always wait eight bars--eight bars exactly--before she begins to _chasser_. That's right. Just so! Advance in couples--right, left--right, left--right, left--down the middle. Very nicely done, indeed: very nicely, very nicely. Now!--yes--that's it. Change hands, and over again!'