My dear Gilbert: I dedicate this story to you.
Bentle.
C.
Yours always, E.
For the sake of that age, I offer you this book.
I have been thinking again today of those astonishing times when neither of us ever looked at a newspaper; when we were purely happy in the boundless consumption of paper, pencils, tea, and our elders\' patience; when we embraced the most severe literature, and ourselves produced such light reading as was necessary; when (in the words of Canada\'s poet) we studied the works of nature, also those little frogs; when, in short, we were extremely young.
Fourth: because I remember the past.
Second: because I owe you a book in return for "The Man Who Was Thursday." Third: because I said I would when I unfolded the plan of it to you, surrounded by Frenchmen, two years ago.
First: because the only really noble motive I had in writing it was the hope that you would enjoy it.
My dear Gilbert: I dedicate this story to you
