Things progress slowly.

[howie_lovie]

I believe everyone that care to pay any sort of attention to anything has realized or been explained by now that Jane has been spending the night at my home for the past few days.  I would like to clarify that, while we have slept in the same bed, we have not had sex.

It pains me and shames me to have to say it so bluntly, but due to the

Comments

[will_thackeray]

Lovecraft, Mr. Roberts is indeed both a simpleton and an infantile gossip. He has nothing of his own to occupy his time with and feels that he must, therefore, interfere with the lives of others. I am relatively sure that there are few left who honestly believe everything he says. Your Aunt was right that, in such an establishment as this, several of the teachers appear to be less intelligent than those they teach.

[howie_lovie]

I've never been one to tolerate stupidity from anyone. I won't start now. I believe I shall have a more personal chat with Mr. Roberts tomorrow.

[burning_blake]

I hope you report it verbatim.

[playful_jane]

Really, Phillips. I had tried to dissuade you from getting yourself into trouble, and whilst you say that certain punishments will not bother you, I'm sure they would try something. Must you try? We aren't allowed to talk to each other in detention, you know, not that you would attend.

Oh, drat. You'll do what you want, I know, but please try to avoid getting into trouble.

By the by, I rather like the sound of your aunt. She seems very fond of you.

[howie_lovie]

Had he stopped with the incident between you and your father, I would have remained silent, due to your request. However, he slandered me, thinking that my aunt would share his idiotic notions.

And yes, I will.

And yes, she is.

[playful_jane]

Then as he has slandered you as well, I must admit that you are fully justified in your actions, within reason.

But I would truly like Roberts to take out his anger solely on myself. It is some comfort to know that as much of a pain as he is, only I must deal with the burden.

[howie_lovie]

I would rather he forget about you, and focus on me. Call is chivalrous, but I'd rather you not bear the brunt of his idiocy, dear.

[playful_jane]

Did you not first become aware of my charms when I undertook my own chivalrous actions? Allow me to be such once again so that I may draw you in completely.

As for the "brunt of his idiocy," I find it difficult to believe it would hurt anything but my belief there is a limit to such idiocy, and as far as such a belief goes, I am in no danger of suffering from it in excess. His idiocy is dull indeed, and I am convinced I shall not be in physical danger.

Though I thank you for your concern.

[playful_jane]

Please don't knock gossip and those who gather it, Will. I would have much less to do with my time, as I'm the worst gossip columnist our school paper has ever seen.

However, I agree that Mr. Roberts is a simpleton as well, and rather infantile. I was surprised to find he was married, and suspect he has enough of a fortune to make his relationship worthwhile. I'll have to be careful not to say as much to his face.

[will_thackeray]

I'm positively shocked that he's married.

Jane, I can assure you that there is a vaste dichotomy between the way I feel about the Lovecraft/Roberts situation and the way I feel about your gossip column. I promise you that that simpleton has nothing even close to your sophisticated ability to relay gossip; yours is valuable and his is small-minded. You are far more classy and interesting and much less meddling.

I have nothing wrong with the people who gather gossip, merely with the people who concoct it out of mid-air for lack of anything better to do.

I never meant to cause you any offense.

[playful_jane]

Oh, I assure you there was no offense taken at all. I tend to forget some people differentiate between certain types of gossip. I admit I am quite fond of true gossip, but Roberts seems more interested in showing how smart he is be punishing anyone who challenges him. It's a pity we only have English together.

Ah, and thank you for your kind compliments.

[howie_lovie]

Roberts seems more interested in showing how smart he is be punishing anyone who challenges him, which only really shows how unsure of his hierarchical power he is. A true teacher wouldn't need punishment to get a lesson across.

[playful_jane]

Roberts and hierarchical power? I must admit it had not occurred to me he truly had any such thing. I've always considered a quick mind more powerful than a teaching position, and as such could not bear to see Roberts as an equal.