d White.

_Dear Sir_, Although my niece, Marjorie Carmichael, is of legal
age, it is her desire and that of her mother that I, in the
capacity of guardian, should authorize you or your firm, as I
hereby do in her name, to prosecute her claim as the heir of the
late Dr. James Douglas Carmichael, M.P., to the fortune advertised
by P.R. Mac Smaill, W.S., of Edinburgh as falling her late father,
and to conduct all necessary negotiations with Mr. Mac Smaill and
his clients in the case. Kindly notify me at once of your
acceptance of the trust, and make any necessary demands for funds
and documents as they may be required. Yours,
JOHN CARRUTHERS, J.P.

The other letter was:--

_My Dear Coristine_, What do you mean, you scamp, by frightening
the wits out of my poor lassie with that typewritten bit of legal
formality? I have a great mind to issue a warrant for your arrest,
and send Rigby down with it, to bring you before me and Halbert and
Walker. Man, we would put you through better than Osgoode Hall!
But, seriously, we all want you to stick to this next of kin case.
Spare no expense travelling about, especially if your travel is in
this direction. I think you are not judging Marjorie fairly, not
that I would throw my bonnie niece at the head of a prince of the
blood, but I have taken a great liking to you, and I know that you
have more than a great liking for her. So, no more nonsense.
Honoria and Marjorie (Mrs. Carmichael), and all the rest of
Bridesdale, send kind love and say "come back soon."
Yours affectionately,
JOHN CARRUTHERS.

Mrs. Carruthers also wrote a note that will explain itself:--

_Dear Mr. Coristine_,--Please to overlook my long delay in replying
to your kind letter and in thanking you for your goodness to the
children, who miss you very much, I intended to get Marjorie or
her mother to write for me, but in the bustle of housework,
preserving, and so on, forgot, which was not kind of me. Father
desires me to remember him to you, and says he longs for another
smoke and talk. The others have a delicacy in writing, so I am
compelled to do it myself, though a very poor correspondent. John
has told me ab