“I cannot,” said he, wearily. “Will you?” And he gave her a handful in her lap. Agatha felt pleased; she thanked him, and turned them over one by one.
“Here is a hand which looks like Miss Valery's.”
“It is hers. Set them by.”
She opened another, in a careless and very illegible hand, which she could not recognise at all:
“My dear Brother,
“The approaching marriage in your family, of which you inform me, unfortunately cannot alter my plans. I must recover my lost fortunes abroad.
“Frederick told me yesterday his certainty of being accepted by Miss Valery. He might have told me sooner, but perhaps thought me too much of a crusty old bachelor to sympathise with his felicity. Possibly I am.
“You ask if Anne has communicated to me the coming change in her life? No.
“Farewell, brother, and God bless you and yours.
“B. L. H.”