DEAR MISS POWER,—Please don’t be angry with this letter, but I can’t help writing it. I can’t think of anything but you, and above all the London traffic, even the motor buses and the W.D. lorries, I hear the music of your lovely Irish voice. I want to say that I worship you and if you care the least little bit about me I am yours at your feet to do as you like with. I haven’t been much of a success so far, but with you to help me and order me about I could do anything. Aunt Verena is buying me a share in a new concern directly, and I am sure she would adore it if you were her niece, though only by marriage. Don’t answer this at once, but give me the benefit of thinking me over from every point of view. Of course you may be engaged already, or you may actively dislike me, and in this case I must ask you to forgive me for writing, but I couldn’t help it. If you could see yourself and hear yourself speak you would understand why.—Your abject admirer, ROY BARRANCE _P.S._—Please answer at once and put me out of my misery. CXLIII ROY BARRANCE TO CLEMENCY POWER [_Telegram_] Don’t reply to letter am coming by afternoon train. CXLIV SEPTIMUS TRIBE TO VERENA RABY MY DEAR SISTER,—It is seldom enough that we hear from you direct, but news gets into circulation in very curious ways and it was the oddest chance which informed me that you may be losing the services of Nesta as a companion during your very regrettable indisposition. Letitia is so much stronger than she was, thanks to the nourishing delicacies which the strictest economy in my own personal needs has made it possible for me to obtain for her, that she is now perfectly fitted to be at your side—where, being your sister, she ought to be—and I hereby offer our services. I say “our” for she would not care to come alone, and I could, I am convinced, be useful and stimulating in very many ways. I am not surprised that Nesta should be leaving you. If the stories that I hear of the wildness of those unmothered children of hers are true, it is more than time that she returned to her home. A mother’s first duty is to her brood. The ties uniting aunt and niece are of, comparatively, negligible slenderness. Where there is, as alas! in your case, no husband, a sister has the first claim to nourish and protect. Awaiting your reply,—I am, your affectionate brother-in-law, SEPTIMUS TRIBE CXLV NESTA ROSSITER TO SEPTIMUS TRIBE DEAR UNCLE SEPTIMUS,—You will be pleased to know that I have arranged to stay on with Aunt Verena. Please give my love to Aunt Letitia.—Yours sincerely, NESTA CXLVI ROY BARRANCE TO HIS SISTER HAZEL