Woe Is Me

[Ophelia Dippet]

@'November Malfoy' @'Zipporah Keaton'

My darling November / My dear Zipporah,

Can you believe it? I expect you've seen the paper. I regretted giving that interview to Mrs. Spiller as soon as I saw the article about it; I was utterly mortified to have been referred to as the 'dog-girl,' as you can imagine. Now that wench, that utter brat, Miss Echelon has written in--(I know it was her, even though she pretended it was her housekeeper, or whomever--she's too poor to have a proper chaperone and I confess I almost wrote 'her governness', which would be fitting with how immaturely she behaves)--and claimed all sorts of terrible things about me, the chiefest of which being that I am a liar! I can't imagine why anyone would possibly make that sort of thing up! Surely she knows how ridiculously lame a defense that is, to just claim that no one turned me into a dog that day? That it just spontaneously happened?!? The nerve!

If there is any justice in the world, she will die old, ugly, and utterly miserable! If I weren't a lady I'd wish such terrible things on her! She's probably anxious that someone else sink to her level of infamy, and that's why she's trying to libel and defame me--as if claiming that I was a liar could ever make me as bad off as her!

Still, I'm so embarrassed by the entire ordeal I don't think I shall show my face at all for a month at least! I shall certainly never read the Prophet again!

Your ill-fated friend,

Ophelia

  

[Zipporah Keaton]

Dear Ophelia,

I confess to not having read the articles you are talking about. The Daily Prophet is such a depressing read on most days, so I try to avoid it. Upon reading your letter I found the articles you're referring to.

The Daily Prophet has no tact to call you 'dog-girl'! I also trust you if you say that Miss Hannah Echelon is lying. I suppose it must be a family trait...

Don't you worry about the dog-girl thing. At least you're not a cripple, that'd be ten times worse!

Love,
Zipporah

  

[November Malfoy]

January 22nd, 1886

Dear Ophelia,

It is my belief that Miss Echelon must suffer from whatever moral impairment plagued her father. I feel most grievously for you to have been slandered so cruelly. I hope society will side with the girl without the tarnished reputation as they ought; I do not wish to see your marriage prospects damaged by the spite of one questionable individual. You deserve every happiness in marriage, just as I have found.

I think her defense is very flimsy and so you must not worry too much. Do not lose hope.

If there is anything I can do you for you, please do not hesitate to ask it.

Yours,
November