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〃im used to that；〃 she replied； somewhat bitterly。
i dont dare tell peter。 maybe later on； but he and i need to discuss so many other things first。
mother slapped me last night； which i deserved。 i mustnt carry my indifference and contempt for her too far。 in spite of everything； i should try once again to be friendly and keep my remarks to myself！
even pim isnt as nice as he used to be。 hes been trying not to treat me like a child； but now hes much too cold。 well just have to see what es of it！ hes warned me that if i dont do my algebra； i wont get any tutoring after the war。 i could simply wait and see what happens； but id like to start again； provided i get a new book。
thats enough for now。 i do nothing but gaze at peter； and im filled to overflowing！
yours； anne
m。 frank
evidence of margots goodness。 i received this today； march 20； 1944：
anne； yesterday when i said i wasnt jeal… ous of you； i wasnt being entirely honest。
the situation is this： im not jealous of either you or peter。 im just sorry i havent found anyone willi whom to share my thoughts and feelings； and im not likely to in the near future。 but thats why i wish； from the bottom of my heart； that you will both be able to place your trust in each other。 youre already missing out on so much here； things other people take for granted。
on the other hand； im certain id never have gotten as far with peter； because i think id need to feel very close to a person before i could share my thoughts。 id want to have the feeling that he understood me through and through； even if i didnt say much。
for this reason it would have to be someone i felt was intellectually superior to me； and that isnt the case with peter。 but i can imagine your feeling close to him。
so theres no need for you to reproach yourself because you think you te taking something i was entitled to； nothing could be further from the truth。 you and peter have everything to gain by your friendship。
my answer：
dearest margot； your letter was extremely kind； but i still dont feel pletely happy about the situation； and i dont think i ever will。
at the moment； peter and i dont trust each other as much as you seem to think。 its just that when youre standing beside an open window at twthght； you can say more to each other than in bright sunshine。 its also easier to whisper your feelings than to shout them from the rooftops。 i think youve begun to feel a kind of sisterly affection for peter and would like to help him； just as much as i would。 perhaps youll be able to do that someday； though thats not the kind of trust we have in mind。 i believe that trust has to corne from both sides； i also think thats the reason why father and i have never really grown so close。 but lets not talk about it anymore。 if theres anything you still want to discuss； please write； because its easier for me to say what i mean as on paper than face…to…face。 you know how le much i admire you； and only
hope that some of your goodness and fathers goodness will rub off on me； because； in that sense； you two are a lot alike。
yours； anne
wednesday； march 22；1944
dearest kitty；
i received this letter last night from margot：
dear anne； after your letter of yesterday i have the unpleasant feeling that your conscience bothers you whenever you go to peters to work or talk； theres really no reason for that。 in my heart； i know theres someone who deserves t my trust （as i do his）； and i wouldnt be able to tolerate peter in his place。
however； as you wrote； i do think of peter as a kind of brother。 。 。 a younger brother； weve been sending out feelers； and a brotherly and sisterly affection mayor may not develop at some later date； but its certainly not reached that stage yet。 so theres no need for you to feel sorry for me。 now that youve found panionship； enjoy it as much as you can。
in the meantime； things are getting more and more wonderful here。 i think； kitty； that true love may be developing in the annex。 all those jokes about marrying peter if we stayed here long enough werent so silly after all。 not that im thinking of marrying him； mind you。 i dont even know what hell be like when he grows up。 or if well even love each other enough to get married。
im sure now that peter loves me too； i just dont know in what way。 i cant figure out if he wants only a good friend； or if hes attracted to me as a girl or as a sister。
when he said i always helped him when his parents were arguing； i was tremendously happy； it was one step toward making me believe in his friendship。 i asked him yesterday what hed do if there were a dozen annes who kept popping in to see him。
his answer was： 〃if they were all like you； it wouldnt be so bad。〃 hes extremely hospitable； and i think he really likes to see me。 mean… while； hes been working hard at learning french； even studying in bed until ten…fifteen。
oh； when i think back to saturday night； to our words； our voices； i feel satisfied with myself for the very first time； what i mean is； id still say the same and wouldnt
want to change a thing； the way i usually do。 hes so handsome； whether hes smthng or just sitting still。 hes so sweet and good and beautiful。 i think what surprised him most about me was when he discovered that im not at all the superficial； worldly anne i appear to be； but a dreamer； like he is； with just as many troubles！
last night after the dinner dishes； i waited for him to ask me to stay upstairs。 but nothing happened； i went away。 he came downstairs to tell dussel it was time to listen to the radio and hung around the bathroom for a while； but when dussel took too long； he went back upstairs。 he paced up and down his room and went to bed early。
the entire evening i was so restless i kept going to the bathroom to splash cold water on my face。 i read a bit； daydreamed some more； looked at the clock and waited； waited； waited； all the while listening to his foot… steps。 i went to bed early； exhausted。
tonight i have to take a bath； and tomorrow？
tomorrows so far away！
yours； anne
m。 frank
my answer：
dearest margot； i think the best thing is simply to wait and see what happens。 it cant be much lo