CHAPTER V
DAWSON'S, THE GATE INTO HELL
I
A LETTER from Peter to Stephen:
Dear, dear Steve,
There's a noise going on and boys are throwing paper and things and there's another boy jogging my elhows so that I can't hold my pen. Dear Steve, I hope that you are very, very happy as I am. I am very happy here. I am in the hottom form hecause my sums are so awful and my master beat me for them yesterday but he is nothing to father. I was top in the essay. I like foothall—I have a friend who is called Galion (I don't think that is the right way to spell it. He says that it is like a treasure-ship). He is a nice hoy and Mrs. Trussit was his father's housekeeper once; his father writes stories. There is a boy I hate called Cheeseman, and one called Pollock. Please give my love to Mrs. Brant, the cows, Mollie and the pigs, Mr. and Mrs. Figgis, Mr. Tan and all my friends. Dear Steve, I love you very, very, very much. I am very happy.
- Your loving friend,
- Peter Westcott
A letter from Stephen to Peter:
Dear Mr. Peter,
I have thought every day of you and I was mighty glad to get your bit of a letter fearing that, maybe, thiccy place in Devon might have driven your old friends out of your head. I am no hand with a pen and it is taking me a time to write this so I will just say that I'm right glad you're happy and that I'll greet the day I see you again, and that's it's poor trade here without you.
- I am always, your friend,
- Stephen Brant
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