Hello to all my readers. Sorry it's taken so long. My computer was on the fritz. But I have returned and I hope you enjoy this little tidbit even though Mary doesn't have much backbone in this particular chapter, but she will make up for it later, I promise. Now enough of my foolish chatter. Enjoy the story.

I backed into a chair thoroughly shattered. How long would we be kept away from each other? I cursed myself when I thought of Bert. I had forced him to enter into an indefinite engagement and now we were both bound to ache for each other. I was convinced I would miss him more with every day that we were kept apart.

"Now then, I am Mrs. Corry and it's time your lessons began."

"My lessons?"

"Yes. You'll have to learn deportment, posture, hairstyle obviously-"

"But I like my hair. Bert says-" I stopped. She really didn't care what Bert said.

"You can't wear it that long around children. You must have it cut and then be instructed in the proper way to wear it. Clothing, voice modulation if you can't sing."

"I assure you, that I can competently do."

"And flying apparatus. I think you warrant the use of an umbrella. Come, let's go and choose one."

As it turned out I chose a very nice looking parrot-headed umbrella that would talk to me when no one else was around. It was a curious opinionated thing and at times I must admit it got on my nerves. It had a great deal of questions for me, especially concerning my relationship with Bert, and I answered every one, until the examination.

The examination was perhaps the cruelest thing, besides the separation, that I was forced to endure. Apparently my umbrella was filling Mrs. Corry in about Bert. She sat me down and asked me several very embarrassing questions and then a doctor was brought in to make sure I was telling the truth concerning my virtue. He determined that I was and I was allowed to return to my room where I proceeded to write Bert a very long letter detailing, in a clean way, what had occurred. I tore open his reply, the Wind always pasted it back together for me, and read his angry words, the words that swore he would fall like an ocean on those who had dared to question my virginity. I wrote back saying that it would be dangerous for him to do so, but I thanked him for his concern. I told him how much I loved and missed him, and that I hoped to visit him in London soon.I did not tell him that they had cut my hair so that it was now just touching my shoulders when it had been past my shoulder blades before. Bert so loved my hair. I did not tell him that they had given me several very restricting corsets to wear; unlike the soft frilly ones I had bought upon our engagement. They had taken those away. Bert would have kidnapped me if he had known of all the things they had taken away from me.

I know it's short but I will try to update tomorrow. I hope you all enjoyed and please review. I always appreciate it. Love, Alycia.