August 27，1929

Frances darling，

I've been reading your letter over all day，it's so dear，even the part that worried me.I imagine that tomorrow morning's mail will tell me what has happened and whether I really upset things.My mind has been constantly on the Cape——I can see you，but I don't know what you are doing and saying，and I want so dreadfully to know.Tell me that everything is all right，and tell me again.I've wanted to telephone，but I know you don't like the telephone，and besides I remember that yours is right out in the middle of everything and conversation is impossible.Damn the distancebetween us！You won't get this until thirty sixhours after I write it.But remember that when Itell you now that I love you I shall be loving youeven more by the time you read the words.LastSunday I couldn't have believed that my love couldever be bigger and stronger than it was then——but it's growing every hour.Can't you feel it？

Yesterday I couldn't do a stroke of work.I was exhausted——burned out——stunned.Theterrific suspense¹ and emotional strain and then theunbelievable happiness left me without much bodyor mind.But today I was myself again，only betterthan ever before；you were the motive² for everything.I've never had so much energy.Youhave done that；don't stop.

Haven't you a photograph or even a snapshot of yourself？I want to look at and touch，as I readand touch your letters；it helps bring you a littlecloser.

Frances dear，don't be afraid；it's for me to beafraid；afraid that you are too beautiful，too sweet，too adorable，actually to be mine；afraid that I amnot good enough to make you happy when I haveyou.Yet I'm not really afraid I can't make youhappy；I worship you，and I know that such a lovecan create only happiness.

Tonight I have to read two manuscripts.I tryto believe that it is your hand that turns the pages；that you are sitting and reading with me.It's lovelyhere；real country；with crickets that are doing theirbest to sing your name.

Good night，and I love you，and again，remember when you read it that my love will bethirty-six hours bigger.Have you room for it？Ilove you.

Ogden

亲爱的弗朗西丝：

我整整一天都在看你的信，你的信太可爱了，甚至令我担忧的那部分也如此可爱。我想象着明天早上收到的邮件将告诉我发生了什么事，是否我真的把事情搅乱了。我的心思一直都在好望角上 ——我能看见你，却不知道你在做什么、你在说什么，但我却如此渴望知道这一切。告诉我一切都很好，再告诉我一遍。我多想给你打电话，但我知道你不喜欢电话，而且我还记得你的电话总是出故障，不可能交谈。真该死！我们相隔这样远！在我写完这封信三十六小时之后，你才能收到它。但你要记住，我现在对你说我爱你，而在你看到这些话的时候我将更爱你。上个星期天，我没有想到我此时对你的爱比那时更深、更强烈——我的爱每时每刻都在增加。你能感觉到吗？

昨天，我一点儿工作都没做。我感到精疲力尽，劳累不堪，头晕眼花。可怕的不安与紧张的情绪以及后来的令人难以置信的幸福使我身心疲惫。但今天我又恢复如初，而且比过去任何时候都好；你是这一切转机的动力。我从来没有如此精力充沛过。这一切都缘于你，一直做下去吧。

你有照片吗？或者一张你的快照？在我阅读和触摸你的信件时，我也想看一看、摸一摸你的照片，这使你离我更近一些。

亲爱的弗朗西丝，不要担心。感到担心的应该是我。我担心你太美丽了，太温柔了，太可爱了，你不会真正属于我。我担心当我拥有你时，我无法使你欢乐。可我也并不真正担心我不能使你快乐。我崇拜你，我知道这样的爱只会创造出幸福。

今晚我得阅读两份手稿。我憧憬着正是你的手在为我翻开每一页，也正是你和我坐在一起阅读。这儿非常可爱，是真正的乡村，蟋蟀都在尽情地吟唱着你的名字。

晚安，我爱你。再一次告诉你，请你记住，当你读这封信时，我的爱经历了三十六小时后膨胀得更大，你有空间接受它吗？我爱你。

奥格登

1929年8月27日