Judging from the last shot of Peggy in “Maidenform”, I rather doubt it. Besides, Bobbie gave some good advice. Peggy isn’t really going to get anywhere acting like a man. It will only get her so far, as she found out in the last episode. I’m not saying that she should whore herself or anything. And I think she allowed matters to go to far when she ended up in that client’s lap. But she is a woman. And being a woman . . . even in the world of business . . . is not as much a handicap as many would believe.

Genius.

“You’re so young and beautiful.” For example. Peggy ignored that. I think she truly does not care.

I think she cares. The scene in the Wheel with Annie, the voiceover actor, showed me she cares. She thinks, or thought at the time, that beauty equals confidence, and she was pretty sure she didn't have either.

I think she doesn't want to care. What did being young and beautiful bring her? And really? Beautiful? "You're not much, so enjoy it while you can". I think she is tired of hearing that she is, that she isn't. I think she's tired of what it means in the world to be either pretty or 'less-than'.

And I think we're going to see her continue to reclaim her prettiness, as she heals. She's now, based on Bobbie's words, going to integrate the control she's exercised while being manlike, with the power of being a woman.

Fingers crossed. It's a lot to take on. Plus um… she's kind of a weird girl.

Non-sequitur: Does anybody else think that Hamm looks a like young Deniro?

Peggy speaks, in short, like a man. She does not want to be understood; she wants to be in control. "I answered your question."

Bobbie, used to being handled in that way by men, showed surprise in sharing such a dialogue with a woman — and kept trying to work around it.

"You're so young and beautiful." For example. Peggy ignored that. I think she truly does not care.

And I loved what Peggy did with Bobbie's advice at the end of her stay: she saw right through it, considering the source (a woman who relies on her wiles — whatever she thinks those are — in navigating the world), and interpreting Bobbie's message to suit her own needs.

Then Peggy acted: she used her memory of that evening and her relationship with her boss to get her money back, and to further level the field between them. She solidified her new status with her use of Don's first name: effectively taking everything Bobbie had said to her ("you're not a man"), and rendering it completely irrelevant.

I'll say it again. Peggy is the future. Don told her to move forward; she did. She always will. Not unlike a Sherman tank.

Don may have been instrumental in her full recovery. Maybe sent her away to get some kind of rest, and then maybe the rumor was true; maybe it was fat farm instead of funny farm.

And then? Who knows what else.

Bobbie kept asking point blank… are you in love with him? Answer: I'm not your competition.

I love this show, and I am loving this season.

Don is a standup guy in a lot of ways, and one of those ways is that he takes care of those who show him loyalty.

I am seeing a lot of parallels between Peggy and Rachel this season. They are both intelligent, strong women who don't "fit." They both seem committed to career, not family when that was really unheard of. They both transcended the teacher/nurse/model/secretary female career menu. Peggy of course because of Don's sponsorship, but they both show an underlying drive that I think Don finds very intriguing. All three are completely self made and loners.

Nah, who am I kidding.

As for why if it were for Peggy would it be sent so secretly… Part of it is not to arouse suspicion from others in the office, and part me be that he would not be able, or willing to communicate beyond the book. She gets the book, no conversation. At this point they may both be too reserved too talk about the feelings the poems inspire, but still have the need to see them acknowledged.