ne Before you Come as she ma
Expeckye and the Dog is not to Gointo the Parlor a Tall

"your Aunt kind Love to you Both & hopes you Wonte Fail in Coming
according to Prommis

"MRS NEWTON."

From a later letter it appears that the nieces did not pay their
visit after all, and what is worse a letter had miscarried, and the
aunt sat up expecting them from seven till twelve at night, and
Harry had paid for "Faggots and Coles quarter of Hund. Faggots Half
tun of Coles 1l. 1s. 3d." Shortly afterwards, however, "She" again
talks of coming up to London herself and writes through her
servant:--

"My Dear girls i Receve your kind letter & I am happy to hear you
ar both Well and I Was in hopes of seeing of you Both Down at My
House this spring to stay a Wile I am Quite well my self in Helth
But vary Low Spireted I am vary sorry to hear the Misforting of
Poor charles & how he cum to flie in the Fier I cannot think. I
should like to know if he is dead or a Live, and I shall come to
London in August & stay three or four daies if it is agreable to
you. Mrs. Newton has lost her mother in Law 4 day March & I hope
you send me word Wather charles is Dead or a Live as soon as
possible, and will you send me word what Little Betty is for I
cannot make her out."

The next letter is a new handwriting, and tells the nieces of their
aunt's death in the following terms:--

"DEAR MISS ---, It is my most painful duty to inform you that
your dear aunt expired this morning comparatively easy as Hannah
informs me and in so doing restored her soul to the custody of
him whom she considered to be alone worthy of its care.

"The doctor had visited her about five minutes previously and had
applied a blister.

"You and your sister will I am sure excuse further details at
present and believe me with kindest remembrances to remain

"Yours truly, &c."

After a few days a lawyer's letter informs the nieces that their
aunt had left them the bulk of her not very considerable property,
but had charged them with an annuity of 1 pound a week to be paid
to Harry and Mrs. Newton so long as the dog lived.

The only other letters by Mrs. Newton are written on paper of a
different and more modern size; they leave an impression of having
been written a good many years later. I take them as they come.
The first is very short:--

"DEAR MISS ---, i write to say i cannot possiblely come on
Wednesday as we have killed a pig. your's truely,

"ELIZABETH