"  To  be  serious  for  a  moment,  Louis,  I'd  really  love
to  have  you  come.  You  know  I  never  before  saw  the  real
country' ;  I'm  a  novice  in  the  woods  and  fields,  and,  some-
how, I'd  like  to  have  you  share  my  novitiate  in  this — as
you  did  when  I  first  came  to  you.  It  is  a  curious  feel-
ing I  have  about  anything  new ;  I  wish  you  to  experience
it  with  me.
"  Rita  is  awake  and  exploring  the  box  of  Maillard's
147


THE    COMMON   LAW


which  is  about  empty.  Bo  a  Samaritan  and  send  mc
some  assorted  chocolates.  Be  a  god,  and  send  me  some-
thing to  read — anything,  please,  from  Jacol)s  to  James.
There's  latitude  for  j'ou.  Be  a  man,  and  send  me  your-
self. You  have  no  idea  how  welcome  you'd  be.  The
chances  are  that  I'd  seize  you  and  embrace  you.  But
if  you're  v.'illing  to  run  that  risk,  take  your  courage  in
both  hands  and  come.
"  Your  friend,

"  Valerie  West."

The  second  week  of  her  sojourn  she  caught  a  small
pickerel — th.e  only  fish  she  had  ever  caught  in  all  her
life.  And  she  tearfully  begged  the  yokel  wh.o  was  row-
ing her  to  replace  the  fish  in  its  native  element.  But  it
was  too  late ;  and  she  and  Rita  ate  her  victim,  sadly,  for
dinner.
At  the  end  of  the  week  an  enormous  box  of  bonbons
came  for  her.  Neither  she  nor  Rita  were  very  well  next
day,  but  a  letter  from  Neville  did  wonders  to  restore
abused  digestion.
Other  letters,  at  intervals,  cheered  her  immenselv,  as
did  baskets  of  fruit  and  boxes  of  chocolates  and  a  huge
case  of  books  of  all  kinds.
