Dart begins, “Only once, and that was 13 months ago, was there ever a bigger, brighter, more lovely moon than the one that dwarfed the trees as I put the car away tonight.”

“I had a letter from you today, but this is all the answer I can muster, and it is only because I love you so very, very much. I sure wish you were here to say, ‘Don’t stop now’, or to hold me ever so tightly for a long time.”

#          #          #

“I knew my disgruntled letter would bring some sort of reaction, but I never knew it would come in book form. It must have taken hours to write, and believe me, Dart, I very much appreciate that. Even though I’m still very much puzzled, it did a great deal to boost my spirits, which have sunk to an unusually low ebb this week.”

She notes that his opinions seemed to do a complete flip from page 1 to page 11, so she hardly knows what to say. Perhaps it’s best to let the matter rest for a while, although not long enough to ignore the issues.

She points out that while he advised her to talk with someone she trusts without letting them influence her or put words in her mouth, he did exactly that. He seems to have been greatly influenced by his talk with his mother.  She wonders if it was wise to show that letter to his mother. It isn’t one she was proud of, and she feels it gave his mother the impression that she felt unloved or unwanted by Dart’s parents. Because of their frequent praise and gracious hospitality they’ve always shown her, that thought never entered her mind. She does believe, however, that both his parents would be happier if she and Dart would postpone their wedding until he was done with school.

“If your parents don’t think we are ready to be married in September how do they think we’ll be any more ready by next June? Does the passing of a few more months prepare us any better, if in these months we’re not going to be together? Surely the letters we write to one another during these months aren’t going to get us any better acquainted. I don’t understand the argument.”

Did he really mean the question of whether or not they should get married at all? She feels they have both made their thoughts and feelings crystal clear on that score, over and over again. Was he actually wondering, or does he think that’s a question others are asking about them?

“I certainly don’t want anyone to think I’m forcing you into anything, but I do see more things in favor of us getting married in September than next June. … So far El is the only one who agrees with me, so we’d best forget the subject and start making definite plans for next June.”

Deftly, she writes that it is never her intention to blame others for her dissatisfaction, but she had sunk to a very low place when she wrote that letter. Those moods rarely last long, but lately they have been coming too frequently.

Having vented a little, she says it’s time for bed. She’s working at the Miller’s house early tomorrow, and then she’s joining Helen, Nancy, and Janie to see “A Stolen Life.” Her father has even said she could use the car, so it promises to be quite a night.

I’m glad Dot was able to push back a little on some of Dart’s arguments and observations. There have been times where it has seemed to me that the difference in their ages, or Dot’s assumption about Dart’s superior intelligence have caused a slight imbalance in their relationship. In today’s letter, by respectfully challenging some of Dart’s ideas and defending some of her own, Dot took a step to creating a more balanced, adult relationship.

No letters tomorrow, but we’ll all be back on the 17th.