Exuberance is the order of the day. As Dot fights off the crowds at work (people whom she says have come to Franklin Simon to see what we’re giving away), Doug arrives with five letters from Dart and one from Gordon! Although she must wait for her lunch break to read them, just having them in her pocket gives her joy and a deep sense of relief.
She was enchanted by his description of his arrival at that beautiful island as the sun was preparing to set. “I’ve told you so often how much I enjoy your descriptions that it’s no longer news. Dart, it makes wonderful reading, especially at the dinner table.” For some reason, that mental picture gives me a little jolt of pleasure. First, there’s this hard-working family, coming together at the end of the day to enjoy a meal in each other’s company. I can see this modest group sitting in the very formal dining room of the big Victorian house where my mother grew up, turning the dark and stuffy surroundings into a welcoming and cozy setting. Then, I can see them sharing stories of their days – the prople they met, the things they learned. And finally, perhaps over dessert, there would be time for the best wartime tradition of all – reading exceprts from letters they had received from loved ones far away. Ruth might share news from a nephew, or the son of a family friend. Betty might read an amusing anecdote from Gordon. Then Dot would unveil these descriptive jewels from Dart, serving to let everyone at the table into his world, if only for a few minutes.
She was excited to hear about Dart’s impromtu visit with Fred. What fun it must have been to share some time with such a close friend from home in such a remote corner of the globe. She’s sure the visit did Fred a world of good in helping to shake him out of his rut. “I hope you will meet again very soon in Cleveland. Leave the Orient to the Chinese.”
She suggests that rather than her being there to enjoy the scenery with him, it might be preferable if he would come home to enjoy some native scenery with her. She humbly suggest that the views from Sunset Hill in Sunapee, New Hampshire would rival what he’s witnessed over the Pacific. Plus, it has the added bonus of family tradition. From her parents, through Harriet, Gordon and their spouses, the lake has made a beautiful honeymoon spot for Chamberlains. “And who’s to take it forward from here? Only time will tell.”
Dot tells Dart that it’s gratifying he’s so pleased with the person for whom he’s chosen to “foot the bills” for the rest of his life, but he will eventually see her other moods which may not be so pleasing. Still, she wisely declares that she’d rather he love her in spite of her faults than to have some idealized fantasy of who she really is. She’s fairly certain he’s already seen those flaws, but is too much of a gentleman to mention them. I suspect the truth is that what she sees as flaws, he finds to be endearing quirks.
She’s so eager to see him that she’s contemplating swimming out to meet his boat. She asks that if he should spot a dark figure in the water as his ship is heading east, kindly pull along side and hoist her “waterlogged form out of the wet water, please.”
Two other topics need to be covered before she falls into bed. First, does he really think he’ll be home in September? How cruel it would be of him to taunt her unless he’s certain it will happen. Second, she’d rather he pick out the ring himself and surprise her. She says she has no idea what to look for in an engagement ring and she trusts his taste and judgement. “So, be it from Tiffany’s or the ten-cent store, if it’s from you, I know I’ll love it!”
The thought of seeing him again thrills her “completely cock-eyed.”
