I am so happy to be almost at the scene of your victories, past
and to come. And to think I have never seen you row! How foolish
and inconsiderate of Father to drag me abroad so early two seasons
on end. But I am bringing all the heaped-up enthusiasm of three
years--think of that! I suppose you are as calm as _blanc mange_,
while I am jabbering rowing at everybody in sight, and am getting
really awfully clever about strokes and catches (are they so very
catching?). Your classmate, Dickie Munson, is on board, and has
been coaching me up on the technical mysteries, and spinning many
jolly yarns about you. I hear you are to be elected captain of
next year's crew, the very grandest honor at Yale. May I offer
congratulations in advance? I do so want to see you, and will be
one of the worshipping admirers of your prowess! Of course you will
be busy until after the race, and then you are to come down to the
_Diana_ as soon as ever you can. Don't forget that I will have an
eye on you all the way down the course.
Yours as ever,
CYNTHIA.
Hastings tucked this letter in an inside pocket with reverent care, and
without speaking, sought next what his mother would say: