Evelyn Woodward's 2nd Letter to Lillian

Dear Lillian,

Have you been keeping a secret beaux from me? You wicked girl!

I would not have thought it possible. When Richard first told me about the mysterious Mr. Joshua Winters, I thought he had completely cracked. No doubt unable to account for a woman's desire to remain unattached and free, he had invented, perhaps not the person, but certainly, an attachment. I thought I knew you too well for that.

But, after speaking to Elena Alcatruz for some time (as she really has many other topics of conversation than the affections of one tourist for another, and she is far more interested in lively conversations about the arts, so it took me no small effort to extract all the pertinent details from her), I am forced to conclude that, if Richard is wrong, it is because you successfully convinced Elena that you were completely smitten with the Mysterious Mister Winters.

According to Elena, she met a musician from the Ozarks, your Mr. Winters, who was wondering if he could contribute something new to the ambience of Mexcio City, particularly to Coyoacan. One cannot fault the man's taste. And, I gather, his skill on a banjo is at least respectable.

Elena, as I am sure you already know, loves showing off her city. From a private tutor's point of view, she is a great find! She can keep my charges occupied for hours, and while I would not go so far as to leave them solely to her, it does make those house easier for me, and entertaining as well, as I am now allowed to learn and play the student tourist. And so, when she invited the Mysterious Mr. Winters to a party, she made it clear to him that he might bring along anyone he desired.

She confessed to some slight attraction to Mr. Winters, although I suspect she was not quite as smitten as she led Richard to believe. But, she did note how, when you saw that she was more than a little friendly to Mr. Winters, you took his arm firmly, as if to say, "Miss Alcatruz, no doubt you are a fine guide to your city, and you are quite rightly proud of it, but mark you well that Mr. Winters is here with ME, and not with you, and it is for US, not him, that you will show off your city. Mr. Winters, I quite understand why you are smitten with this city, and no city could ever demand fidelity, but see that you remember that I am the only _woman_ with whom you are smitten, and I _do_ demand fidelity. Put on no airs, Miss Alcatruz. Be not too generous with your smile, Mr. Winters."

Now, if you are indeed smitten with the Mysterious Mr. Winters, well, first of all, you must tell me all about him, starting with where and how you met! Leave nothing out -- this shall be your penance for neglecting to mention him to me in the first place!

Also, and in all seriousness, I hope that you have become more easy around him. From what Elena said, when I pressed her hard, and more importantly, from what she did not say, I believe you made a not entirely favorable impression upon her, the impression of one who tries a little too hard. Never _presuming_ that you might have any amount of talent, but rather loudly proclaiming that you have no such talent for whatever the activity might be, while it is clear to at least those with any modicum of perception that you wish to perform that activity, but only after you have been suitably cajoled and reassured.

It is sadly true that there are men who find this sort of behaviour endearing. It is even sadder that there are some men who consider it essential. But, I urge you to shun such men, Lillian! You do not need -- or want -- their good opinion! And those men of discernment, and most women, will see right through the facade. At best, they will pity you, and I am sure that their pity is galling to you.

If you are smitten with the Mysterious Mister Winters, and if he is the sort of man who wishes a woman to so lower herself, I urge you to reconsider your attachment to him. But then if you are smitten with him, I urge you to consider whether he truly is such a man. I would think that any man to whom you felt a strong attraction would be far too intelligent to expect or to wish for such behaviour from anyone in whose company they seek to spend time.

It is possible, of course, that you are sighing with disappoi ntment and that you have no strong attraction to the Mysterious Mister Winters. Perhaps you had your reasons for leading Elena to believe that you did. In that case, perhaps you might share them with me. And, if that is the case, it would be helpful to know whether or not you wish Richard to be disabused of this notion. If you truly wish him to put all thoughts of wooing and winning you behind him, it may be as well to let him believe that he has found a reason for your position.

In the meanwhile, how is Bangkok? And how are Mr. Locksley and his sisters doing? I know that his sisters are terribly worried about him. And who else are you traveling with? Does that include the Mysterious Mister Winters?

Your Friend,

Evelyn