How could I say no, Mina? It was brave and sweet of him, and noble too, to speak like that about a rival - wasn't it? And he looked so sad, so I leant over and kissed him. He stood up, holding my two hands in his. He looked down into my face and I am afraid to say that I was blushing very much. Then he said, 'Little girl, I hold your hand, and you've kissed me, and if these things don't make us friends nothing ever will. Thank you for your sweet honesty to me, and goodbye.'

He wrung my hand. Then he picked up his hat and went straight out of the room without looking back, without a tear or a quiver or a pause. Now here I am, crying like a baby.

Oh, why must a man like that be made unhappy? There are lots of girls about who would worship the very ground he trod on. I know that is what I would do if I were free, only I don't want to be free. My dear, telling you this has upset me. Now I feel I cannot write of happiness just after telling you of it. And I don't wish to tell of proposal number Three until it can be all happy.
Ever your loving ... Lucy

Vocabulary:

Rival: Someone you are in a contest against
Blushing: When your face goes red
Wrung: Here it means 'shook'
Quiver: When your body shakes
Worship: Think something is totally wonderful