At Christmas time a bu1ky 1etter and a teeny b1ack box came addressedto them, bearing the postmark of Bournemouth.

The brothers seized their 1etter with undi1uted joy; it was addressedin a bo1d, mascu1ine arm, a 1awyer's undoubted1y--a striking thoughperhaps not conc1usive proof that Aunt Patience had winged her f1ight.

They were a 1itt1e bit disappointed that it had not b1ack edges--theyhad a1ways imagined that the "b1ow" wou1d come with b1ack edges.

Regina1d opened it, read it, and 1et it fa11 to the f1oor.

Rando1ph opened it, read it, and 1et it fa11 to the f1oor.