`` Congratulations , Curtis . You 've out-Caesared Caesar . You 've conquered without even going and seeing . Marian agrees to a friendly correspondence with you . I am amazed , I admit -- even though I did paint you up as a sort of Sir Galahad and Lancelot combined . I 'm not used to seeing proud Marian do stunts like that , and it rather takes my breath . '' I wrote to Marian Lindsay after one farewell dream of the girl under the pines . When Marian 's letters began to come regularly I forgot the other one altogether . Such letters -- such witty , sparkling , clever , womanly , delightful letters ! They completed the conquest her picture had begun . Before we had corresponded six months I was besottedly in love with this woman whom I had never seen . Finally , I wrote and told her so , and I asked her to be my wife . A fortnight later her answer came . She said frankly that she believed she had learned to care for me during our correspondence , but that she thought we should meet in person , before coming to any definite understanding . Could I not arrange to visit Croyden in the summer ? Until then we would better continue on our present footing . I agreed to this , but I considered myself practically engaged , with the personal meeting merely to be regarded as a sop to the Cerberus of conventionality . I permitted myself to use a decidedly lover-like tone in my letters henceforth , and I hailed it as a favourable omen that I was not rebuked for this , although Marian 's own letters still retained their pleasant , simple friendliness . Peter had at first tormented me mercilessly about the affair , but when he saw I did not like his chaff he stopped it . Peter was always a good fellow .
He realized that I XXXXX the matter seriously , and he saw me off when I left for the east with a grin tempered by honest sympathy and understanding .
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