RICHARD HAVEN TO EVANGELINE BARRANCE DEAR EVANGELINE (what a long name!), I am so busy in trying to be a beguiler to your Aunt Verena, on my own account, that I don’t think I shall be able to contribute to your magazine; but I wish it very well and I shall try to collect something for you from a literary friend here and there. Being funny is too difficult for me anyway.—Yours sincerely, RICHARD HAVEN XXI SEPTIMUS TRIBE TO VERENA RABY DEAR SISTER,—Letitia and I were distressed by the tone of Nesta’s reply to my offer of a friendly advisory visit. It was never in my mind to supplant your lawyer, but merely to assist you in preparing for him. Friendly as family lawyers can become, one must always remember that they are a race apart, members of a secret society, largely inimical in their attitude to amateur counsellors outside their mystery. But on this subject I shall say no more. Letitia is, I regret to state, in a poorer condition of health than usual, due not a little to the need for certain luxuries with which, to my constant regret, I am unable to provide her, not the least of which is some sound invigorating wine such as our medical man recommends. In default of champagne, which is light and easily digested, she has to take stout, which, poor girl, lies heavily on her stomach. But these are not matters on which to discourse to one in affliction, and I apologise. Let me repeat that if in any way I can be of service to you in your helplessness I shall be only too ready.—I remain, your affectionate brother-in-law, SEPTIMUS TRIBE XXII HORACE MUN-BROWN TO VERENA RABY DEAR AUNT,—I am afraid I was over-sanguine about the name for my invention. I showed it to a friend, a very capable man at the Bar, and to my astonishment he pronounced “Ally” not as if it were the word signifying helper (as I had intended) but as though it were a diminutive of Alexander or Alfred, bringing to mind, most unsuitably, the vulgar paper _Ally Sloper_. Such a misconception, in a man of his ability, would mean that far too many people would make a similar mistake, so we must start again.—I am, yours sincerely, HORACE MUN-BROWN XXIII NESTA ROSSITER TO RICHARD HAVEN DEAR “UNCLE” RICHARD.—The news here is good, I think, were it not that Aunt Verena has great difficulty in sleeping. She worries a good deal over her inactivity, and her burdensomeness (as she calls it) to others. She does not want to take drugs, nor do the doctors recommend them if they can be avoided. Our nurse is very good and attentive, but not much of a companion in the small hours. Have you any suggestions?—I am, yours sincerely, NESTA ROSSITER XXIV RICHARD HAVEN TO VERENA RABY