Three weeks ago Alicia wrote to me , asking me to spend the winter with her . Her letters always make me just gasp with longing for the life they describe . Jack 's face , when I told him about it , was so woebegone that I felt a stab of remorse , even in the heyday of my delight . `` Do you really mean it , Kitty ? Are you going away to leave me ? '' `` You wo n't miss me much , '' I said flippantly -- I had a creepy , crawly presentiment that a scene of some kind was threatening -- `` and I 'm awfully tired of Thrush Hill and country life , Jack . I suppose it is horribly ungrateful of me to say so , but it is the truth . '' `` I shall miss you , '' he said soberly . Somehow he had my hands in his . How did he ever get them ? I was sure I had them safely tucked out of harm 's way behind me . `` You know , Kitty , that I love you . I am a poor man -- perhaps I may never be anything else -- and this may seem to you very presumptuous . But I can not let you go like this . Will you be my wife , dear ? '' Was n't it horribly straightforward and direct ? So like Jack ! I tried to pull my hands away , but he held them fast . There was nothing to do but answer him . That `` no '' I had determined to say must be said , but , oh !
how woefully it did stick XXXXX my throat !
Alicia Hill Jack about in like of presentiment that to