I 'll put it in Our Magazine . '' `` But you ca n't write poetry , Peter , '' I protested . `` I 'm going to try , '' said Peter stoutly . `` That is , if you think she wo n't be offended at me . '' `` She ought to feel flattered , '' I replied . `` You never can tell how she 'll take things , '' said Peter gloomily . `` Of course I ai n't going to sign my name , and if she ai n't pleased I wo n't tell her I wrote it . Do n't you let on . '' I promised I would n't and Peter went off with a light heart . He said he meant to write two lines every day till he got it done . Cupid was playing his world-old tricks with others than poor Peter that spring . Allusion has been made in these chronicles to one , Cyrus Brisk , and to the fact that our brown-haired , soft-voiced Cecily had found favour in the eyes of the said Cyrus . Cecily did not regard her conquest with any pride . On the contrary , it annoyed her terribly to be teased about Cyrus . She declared she hated both him and his name . She was as uncivil to him as sweet Cecily could be to anyone , but the gallant Cyrus was nothing daunted . He laid determined siege to Cecily 's young heart by all the methods known to love-lorn swains . He placed delicate tributes of spruce gum , molasses taffy , `` conversation '' candies and decorated slate pencils on her desk ; he persistently `` chose '' her in all school games calling for a partner ; he entreated to be allowed to carry her basket from school ; he offered to work her sums for her ; and rumour had it that he had made a wild statement to the effect that he meant to ask if he might see her home some night from prayer meeting . Cecily was quite frightened that he would ; she confided to me that she would rather die than walk home with him , but that if he asked her she would be too bashful to say no . So far , however , Cyrus had not molested her out of school , nor had he as yet thumped Willy Fraser -- who was reported to be very low in his spirits over the whole affair .
And now XXXXX had written Cecily a letter -- a love letter , mark you .
Brisk Cecily Cupid Cyrus Fraser Peter day night rumour swains