“My dear Mr. Lien,—
“I am very sorry to have to disappoint you in my engagement to
take tea with you to-morrow. I find———”
No excuse would frame itself in my mind. I thought of pleading a
forgotten pre-engagement but put this aside as unworthy. My pride rose.
I tore the letter into bits and sat again by the window. I found Uncle’s
prophecy had come true. I felt really more tired to-day than yesterday.
My brain refused to work. I strove to recall my doings since first I
came under Uncle’s roof, my aims and aspirations, and my efforts towards
attaining them, but my brain seemed muddled. I could not think
systematically or with any decent effect.
Then I had an inspiration. It struck me a letter such as I should write
to Charlie Lien should be written in the third person. Again I took up
my pen and wrote:
“Miss Travers begs to be excused from keeping her engagement with Mr.
Charlie Lien on Monday afternoon.”
Just as I stamped the envelope, Mumsie came to the door and said Uncle
wanted me to go for a walk. I slipped the letter into my muff and
dressed hurriedly.
Mumsie did not come with us, pleading a headache. I was half glad, half
sorry. We walked through the city for several miles. Uncle did the
talking, I had little to say. I could not get my mind off the letter in
my muff. We passed a score of post boxes: but when we returned home I
still was in possession of the letter. Before going to bed I tore it up.