Much of this letter from Dart was simply commenting on parts of Dot’s most recent to him. Still, it seems they are both beginning to add familiar little intimacies with greater frequency.

Referring to Dot’s reference to her 17-1/2 years as being “just a baby,” Dart told her to stop talking like that. He compares her maturity to some 19-year olds he’s been out with and she scores high. “Furthermore,” he continues, “you’re much nicer than most of them. I’ve known several gals who were much too fast, or too affected, for my simpler tastes. Better stop there before I get too deep.”

In another instance, he referred to Dot’s comment that he could write to any girls he wanted because she didn’t really have any “priority” on him. “I’m not so sure about that priority you say you don’t have on me. I wouldn’t mind it if you had one.”

He hints that he won’t be out of the hospital for a long time, but finds some relief in not having to march for hours in the Chicago December.  And he reports that the library crew came by to ask if there were any particular books he wanted. He answered that he’d really like to read something by James Thurber. When they returned, they brought two – one by Carolyn Wells and another by Ruth McKenny. Huh?

He throws in a plaintive “Gee, I want to see you again,” before signing off.

As Dart’s ardor is finding expression, Dot seems to be putting on the brakes a bit. “Please don’t take what I put on the outside of the envelope and elsewhere too seriously. I think and hope I mean it, but as I said before, I’m too young… I’ve seen so many girls get hurt by such things, that I’m gonna kinda take it easy. I will tell you this, tho’ – I’ve never felt quite the way toward any other boy as I do about you.”

She chastises him for losing weight and urges him to regain it and more. “Otherwise I’ll be singing ‘He would have been so nice to come home to.'”

She also tells him there’ll be no more apologies about his”griping.” She doesn’t think he overdoes it, and besides, she can think of no one who has a greater reason to gripe than he.

She tells him she’s nursing a cold and a cough and closes with  “All my love -(I think), Dot.