_Same._
Green Bank, May 23rd.
DEAR REID,
Will you accompany a party of us to-morrow to the Derby?
Let me have an answer by bearer, and take care that it is in the affirmative.
Yours ever,
_Accepting_.
London, May 23rd.
DEAR GEORGE,
I shall have much pleasure in accompanying you to the Derby. Let me know, please, the hour at which you start.
I am, ever,
Yours truly,
J. REID.
_Refusing_.
London, May 23rd.
DEAR BOB,
It is awfully unlucky, but I am obliged to go to Chester on the Derby day, and _can"t_ do as I desire. I wish you a pleasant trip.
I am ever, yours truly,
_Love-letter from a Gentleman to a Lady._
The Temple, June 4th.
DEAREST,
Days have pa.s.sed by now since we have had the pleasure of a few moments" conversation even; how these hours have dragged their slow pace along you and I alone can tell. It is only when we are left to the peaceful enjoyment of our own society that time flies. It may be that to-morrow at Mrs. E."s we shall have a little time alone. We all dine there; she told me she should have a dance also, and that your mamma had promised her your sister and yourself should be of the party. May I ask for the first waltz? I send a few flowers, but I imagine you will only wear one, the rose in your hair; your sister is always pleased with a bouquet, so I shall not be very angry if you let her have them, only wear my rose.
Your own
EDWARD.
_A Sailor to his Sweetheart._ H.M.S. Centaur, June 14th, 187-
MY DEAR f.a.n.n.y,
You are never out of my mind. If you only think of me half as much, I shall be satisfied. Sleeping or waking it is all the same, f.a.n.n.y, you are my only thought. What have you done with your piece of the half-sovereign we cut in halves? I have bored a hole in mine, and wear it round my neck on a bit of blue ribbon, to show that your William is true blue. Do you wear yours the same, my dearest f.a.n.n.y?
When I come home we will splice the halves, and f.a.n.n.y and her William will be one--will we not, darling girl? Our cruise will now soon be over; I only hope, f.a.n.n.y, you have been as true to me as I have been to you; never have I ceased thinking of you. Bear in mind your faithful William, who loves you as fondly as ever.
Your devoted lover,
WILLIAM.
_Gentleman"s reply to the Lady, imagining he was indifferent to her._
Gillingham, April 16th, 187-
DEAREST LOVE,
Such I must and will, with your permission, always call you. Your letter really caused me much uneasiness. But, Dr. B., who came in just as it arrived, strictly forbade me to excite myself in any way, and would not allow me to reply to it immediately, as he feared an immediate return of my old heart complaint. Who can have been so mischievous, so ungenerous, so determined to make two hearts miserable, as to invent this wicked story of my flirtation with Miss G.? You name Mrs. G. On inquiring of her this morning I find she heard it somewhere spoken of, she says, but cannot recall to her mind the person who mentioned it. Let me at once and for ever disabuse you of such a suspicion. My affection for you is unchanged and unchangeable; often and often I have by letter and verbally too, pledged myself that you alone, Katie dearest, were my only thought, my only joy. Banish all vain suspicions from your mind. Trust in me; I will never deceive you; my love is inviolably yours; for you I breathe, for you I live, without you I should die. Believe me, dearest, night and day you are uppermost in my thoughts, and a sad, sad day it would be for me if for one moment you withdrew that confidence in me that I have so long happily possessed. Believe no aspersions against one who loves you madly. The time, I trust, will soon arrive when I can call you mine alone, and no breath of suspicion shall ever fall upon my fidelity. Love me then, my dearest, as your own heart dictates; have no cares in future as to any attention even in the least degree being shown by me to any one, further than due civility, or what is required from the usages of society, exacts. To-morrow I will do myself the pleasure of calling, and trust then to succeed (if not successful now) in fully explaining away any doubts or fears you may entertain.
Believe me,
Dearest Katie,
Your ever affectionate,
_From a Gentleman to a Lady with whom he is in love._