My Dear Charlie,—We shall be absolutely in the cart without you. They've got an awfully hot fast bowler. Bartram now tells me he can't possibly turn out, and you are the only really decent bat I know. We simply can't lose to Paddlewick again—we shall never hear the last of it. (No one need know that you don't play regularly for Middlecombe.) Do try your best, old man. Mightn't your Aunt Martha be seriously ill?
Yours ever, Phil.
V.
Charles Holcombe to Philip Renwick
(wire.)
Aunt Martha dying. All well. Boss absent Thursday, so can explain to him afterwards. Holcombe.
VI.
Philip Renwick to Charles Holcombe
(wire.)
Good boy. Funeral 11.30. Train Paddington 10.5. Lunch 1.30. Draw 6.30. Philip.