hire Prynnes? Your father knew a Colonel
Prynne--cavalry, I think. How you will miss Roger--for it
will be different, now, Winfred--it must be, you know. Oh,
my dear boy, if only I could help _your_ wife! If only I
could see you with children of your own! Don't wait too
long. Your father and I had but four years together, but I
would live my whole life over again with no change, for
those four. I must go to Jeanne, now.

Your loving MOTHER.

[FROM ROGER'S SISTER]

NEWTON, MASS.,

Sept. 10th, 188--

DEAR JERRY:

I hope you and Roger will not think me unkind, but Walter
will not hear of my looking up Roger's wife, as you ask me.
You see Mother has just begun to to be nice to him, and we
can't afford to lose her good-will, Winfred--we simply
can't. I think Roger has a perfect right to marry whom he
chooses and I don't believe a word of the horrid things
Sarah says. They are not true, are they? But of course
they're not. But why did Roger do it so suddenly? Why not
let us meet her first? What will people think? She will hate
me, I suppose, but Roger knows what we have suffered from
Mother and I hope he will understand. Walter's eyes have
been very bad, lately, and Mother is going to get Cousin
Wolcott Sears to send him on some confidential business to
Germany, the voyage will do him so much good! Do explain to
Roger--he will understand. And ask him to write to me, if he
will.

Yours always,

ALICE BRADLEY-CARTER.

[FROM ROGER'S UNCLE]

3---- COMMONWEALTH AVE.,

Boston, Mass., Sept. 12th, 188--

MY DEAR ROGER:

Your mother has communicated to me the facts of your
marriage, and while I cannot pretend that I feel the haste
and apparent mystery surrounding it are entirely
satisfactory to your aunt and myself, I have hastened to
point out to your mother that a man of your age and known
character is beyond question competent to use his judgment
in such a matter and that I cannot believe you so unworthy
of the fam