The Annotated The Tales of John Oliver Hobbes/A Bundle of Life/Chapter 10

"My dear Harold,—I am so annoyed and disgusted that I can scarcely hold my pen. Wiche has proposed to Teresa and has been accepted. What could be more outrageous than such conduct? As for Teresa, you know I always thought her dreadfully sly. How any woman could prefer Wiche to Ventry! But there, what on earth does Wiche see in Teresa? Van Huyster told me in the course of conversation at dinner that he is engaged to some American person in Paris, and that he hopes to persuade her to marry him on the Fourth of July. We must really be more careful in future about whom we invite to the house. Lilian and Rookes are flirting in the most unexpected manner. I thought they could not bear each other. Nothing, however, would astonish me in that direction after the surprises of this day. I believe that I am the only sane person in the house. Thank goodness, they all go to-morrow. I long for rest. Felicia seems hysterical; I never knew a girl of seventeen with so many nerves. She must go on with that steel tonic, and take fencing lessons. "P.S.—Spalding has just been in to say that he and Danby wish to get married this day month! What could be more tiresome? I begged him to reconsider it, but he said it was too late. He had made up his mind.

"P.S. No. 2.—Ventry has given me to understand that he proposed to Teresa this afternoon, and that she seemed quite annoyed. He is furious, and blames ME. I dare not tell him about Wiche."