So Anyway, I'm Leaving

[Ophelia Dippet]

1 October 1887

My Dear Mr. Devine,

I hope this letter will not shock you too terribly; I know many men have a poor opinion of Witch Weekly and think the publication rather silly and I wouldn't want you to think such of me! They recently ran a sweepstakes where women could enter for a chance to win a holiday abroad, and I have been sending in entries--I did not mention this before only because it seemed so slight a chance that I might actually win!

The holiday leaves the first week of November, and with a small group of other women I'll be going abroad to China, India, the deserts of Arabia, and Venice. I'm terribly excited--I've always wanted to travel and I've never had the opportunity before now. Armando can be such a bore about things like this; he thinks anything exciting is rather inconvenient and I've never been able to persuade him to take me out of the country before. We return in December, in time for Christmas festivities (which means, I think, that I will miss a good deal of the worse weather at the beginning of winter and just return in time for the beautiful pure white snow blankets, which suits me just fine!)

My only regret is that it will mean spending so much time away from you, and I'm afraid no matter what you tell me before I leave, I shall be horribly jealous at the thought of letting you cavort around with other girls while I'm away! I promise to write, though, and I'll find some sort of exotic present to bring back as a souvenir. I hope we'll be able to see each other frequently before I go? October can be so dull for social events, and though of course there will be plenty to do on Halloween I wouldn't want that to be the only occasion to see you before I leave!

Yours Sincerely,

Miss Ophelia Dippet

@'Roberto Devine' @'Clarissa Cosgrove'

  

[Roberto Devine]

October 1st, 1887

My Dear Miss Dippet,

I am not one of those men, I assure you. My own dear mother reads Witch Weekly like it is her bread and butter but you did not hear that from me. To hold a poor opinion on it would be akin to holding a poor opinion upon her which I do not have.

I am quite proud of you, really. What a prize to win! The first week of November? Why, that is not very far from now. You must be absolutely dizzy with excitement! It is a shame that you never got to travel very much before now but it is now being rectified. How did your grandfather take the news?

I am glad that you will return in time for the Christmas activities but I shall miss you and think of you often whilst you are away.

When is the soonest that I can see you? I have something to attend to in the next day or so but I should like to see you as soon as I can to congratulate you in person.

Yours,

— Roberto C. Devine —

  

[Ophelia Dippet]

         
 

2 October 1887

My Dear Mr. Devine,

Armando dislikes any amount of change, I think, but he did manage not to have a heart attack this time, so I think he took it rather well. It was rather obvious how excited I was, I think (your phrase 'dizzy with excitement' is entirely accurate and I feel I've found myself running in circles half a dozen times since I first read the article!) so he couldn't be too put out by the idea.

If you're free the day after tomorrow, we would love to entertain you! I say 'we', but of course you already know my grandfather's skill with entertaining. He's amenable to a visit, however, and he ought to be home all day, so any time you are free to call would suit us quite well; just send a reply so I know when to expect you and I'll have the servants have tea ready!

Yours Sincerely,
 

Miss Ophelia Dippet