This morning a letter came.

It is a pitiful one to read.

My grandfather is, as you may suppose, a very old man; he is ill and alone, and begins to repent, I think, of his harshness to my mother." "But why is he alone?
You said he had a son." "Yes, but he is dead.

He died six months ago, and left but one child, a daughter, who is married and has no children." "No children?
and your grandfather is very rich ?" "I believe so." "But you are his heir, then?
Is that it ?" "He says so, or rather, he says my mother's eldest son is his heir.

He knows nothing of me individually." "And you are the only one left?
Ah, Maurice, if Alice even had been alive!" Maurice sighed.
"If poor Herbert had been alive, how gladly I would have left the heirship to him!" "But why?
I think that is foolish.