The 'Correspondence' Affair #20 - January 20, 1913 (Millicent to Alexander)

[avirra.livejournal.com]

From : Thun, Switzerland

January 20, 1913

My dearest Alexander,

The weather here has been absolutely wretched, but the arrival of your last letter improved my mood considerably. I must admit that I had not considered jealousy as a factor in Uncle William's attitude on his last visit, but to be perfectly truthful, I was so stunned by his stated intent to marry me once I turn eighteen that I really did not have many thoughts that made a great deal of sense.

Before I neglect to mention it, I received the package you sent for my birthday. The necklace is lovely and I am currently wearing it. The design of the pendant is called a Celtic knot, isn't it? Is there more than one type? To answer your question, the usual way they allow us to celebrate our birthdays is to free us from classwork for that day and provide a bit of cake. Since my birthdate shall always fall when the school is closed for the holidays any way, it really doesn't mean a great deal to me.

I am glad that you liked the knife that I sent. Please understand that I didn't mean the slightest insult to your friend by doing so, but I showed Ermengarde your letter and pointed out Euphemia's name as an example of why her own name isn't so bad.

I am dreadfully sorry that I have gone so long without sending a letter, but I didn't want to write until my spirits had lifted somewhat. Our dramatics instructor seems stuck on Shakespeare and we are next tasked with Julius Caesar. Lavinia is our Caesar - Roman nose and all. I have never looked so forward to the Ides of March in my life. Which, amusingly enough, is the day that we will be performing it.

As usual, I have been cast in a male role. Not terribly surprising as the characters are overwhelmingly male. I am cast as Brutus - now you know why I am so looking forward to the Ides of March. One does not often get the chance to act on one's fantasies so vicariously. Ermengarde proved herself in the last production to have a lovely speaking voice and a knack for memorization, so she is our Mark Anthony.

The only reminder now of my ankle injury is a slight twinge when the weather gets particularly bitter. Several of the young ladies here have come down with horrid colds and are being segregated from the rest of us in the attempt to keep the whole school from coming down with it. Ermengarde and I have managed to evade it so far. One of the ladies who has been assisting me in my Italian lessons gave me a bottle of the most horrid tasting vinegar that you can imagine, but she swore to me that her grandmother makes it and says that if one takes a teaspoon of it daily, it helps ward off illness. I can well believe illness would not care to be in the same vicinity. But as we were informed one of the stricken ladies has developed pneumonia, I will continue forcing down that spoonful daily and encourage Ermengarde to do the same.

I hope you maintain good health as well during these cold winter months. Thank you again for the words of encouragement. They reminded me that I am not as alone as it feels at times.

Always yours,

Millicent

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Comments

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Loved the fact that she's looking forward to the "Ides of March." She's got a bit of a streak of wickedness in her, doesn't she?

[avirra.livejournal.com]

Where Lavinia is concerned? Most definitely *l*.