<link href="css/hmh.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"/> <meta content="urn:uuid:dbfb7ce6-4023-4684-ba0e-e90c04ba02ab" name="Adept.expected.resource"/> </head> <body> <h1 class="chaptertitle ">Chapter 33</h1> <p class="center "> <em>Jacky Faber</em> </p> <p class="center "> <em>In care of Miss Amy Trevelyne</em> </p> <p class="center "> <em>Dovecote Farm</em> </p> <p class="center "> <em>Quincy, Massachusetts, United States</em> </p> <p class="center "> <em>November 8, 1803</em> </p> <div class="timebreak "> </div> <blockquote class="indent2"> <p class="left "><em>Mr. James Fletcher, Midshipman</em></p> <p class="left "><em>On Board the</em> Essex, <em>on Station</em></p> <div class="timebreak "> </div> <p class="left "><em>Dear Jaimy,</em></p> <div class="timebreak "> </div> <p class="follow"><em>If you are reading this letter, you will know that I met Davy in Boston when his ship made port here. It was a great joy to see him and it was an even greater joy to hear from him that you were well the last time he saw you.</em></p> <p class="follow"><em>It was with great sorrow, though, that I learned that you have not gotten even one of the many letters that I have sent to you by way of the ships of the Royal Navy that have come to this harbor. It fair broke my heart, it did, to know that you have not been assured of my love for you and have probably gone off into the arms of another by now. Alas, I have not gotten any letters</em> <em>from you, either, and that has been the hardest part of my life here, not knowing how you fare and if you think of my poor self, if at all.</em></p> <p class="follow"><em>I must now write of something that may distress you: In talking to Davy, he said that you said that you didn’t get a letter when the</em> Shannon <em>docked there. Jaimy, I sent a letter on that very ship by way of a very kind and honorable officer who knew your address and promised me that you would get the letter. I</em> know <em>he was as good as his word. There’s only one thing we can cipher from this: Someone in your house has not been passing my letters on to you. I will not insult you by telling you who I think it is, but I think you will be able to figure it out. From now on I will send my letters to you on your ship direct.</em></p> <p class="follow"><em>Whoever has been reading my letters knows that I continue in my love for you in spite of your long silence. If you should want to write to me, please do it to the above address, as I don’t know where I will be from one day to the next and I am sure that Mistress Pimm here at the school would not give me any of your letters, as she doesn’t approve of sailors and she ain’t given me any yet.</em></p> <p class="follow"><em>All that I have written of my life here has been lost and into it all again I cannot go, at least not now. Let it be enough to say that I am happy and have many new and dear friends, but I have been demoted to serving girl because I got in a bit of trouble. After I got busted down I sent you a letter saying if you didn’t want me anymore because of that or anything else, then I was releasing you from your vow of marriage to me, which I here repeat again.</em></p> <p class="follow"><em>I am enclosing a miniature painting I did of myself in hopes that you might like to look at it sometimes. I have done one of</em> <em>you such as my poor memory and even poorer talent serve, and it hangs over my bed. Your ring rests close to my heart.</em></p> <p class="follow"><em>It filled my heart with hope to hear from Davy that you did talk fondly of me the last time he saw you. I am still your girl, if you still want me to be that.</em></p> <div class="timebreak "> </div> <p class="follow"><em>With all my love,</em></p> <p class="follow"><em>Jacky</em></p> </blockquote> </body> </html>