I tell you, sir, that you've
won what is worth a thousand Penreifes--my darling little Tiny's
heart--you great, ugly monster! Dear Dick, I'm so sorry for you, but
I can't cry a bit--only pat you on the back and say, `Never mind.'
I'll take care of Tiny for you, in spite of Aunt Matty--a wicked old
woman!--for if she didn't look up from a goody-goody book, and say
that she'd always expected it, and she was very glad. Ma sends her
love to you, and says she shall come across to Penreife to see you,
the first time papa goes over to Saint Kitt's. She would come now,
only she wants to keep peace and quietness in the house. They're
against you now, but it will soon blow over. If it don't, we'll win
over Aunt Matty to our side by presenting her with dogs. By the way,
Pepine has a cold: he sneezed twice yesterday, and his tail is all
limp. Goodbye, Dick.--Your affectionate sister,

"Fin Rea."

Richard's eyes brightened as he read this, and then carefully bestowed
it in his pocket-book.

He then took out and read again the letter that had come by post:--

"My dear old Dick,--Had yours and its thunderclap. Gave me a bad
headache. Hang it all! if it's true, what a predicament for a fellow
to find out that he's somebody else--`Not myself at all,' as the song
says! But you have possession, Dick; and, speaking as a lawyer, I
should say, let them prove it on the other side. Don't you go running
about and telling people you've no right to the property; for, after
all, it may only be an hallucination of that old woman's brain. What
a dreadful creature! Why, if she isn't your mother--and really, I
think she can't be--I should feel disposed to prosecute her; and I
should like to hold the brief. Don't be in too great a hurry to give
up, but, on the contrary, hold on tight; for that's a fine estate, and
very jolly, so long as you could keep off the locusts. On looking
back, though, there are a good many strange things crop up--the
wonderful display of interest in dear Master Dick, and all the rest of
it. Looks bad--very bad--and like the truth Dick. But, as I said
before, legally you've got possession, and if I can help you to keep
it--no, hang it, Dick! if the place isn't yours, old boy, give it up.
There, you see how suitable I am for a barrister. I could never fight
a bad cause. But, as I said before, give it up, every inch of it. I
wouldn't have m