Page 916 - of-human-bondage-

and threw it into the washing-basket by his side. Suddenly
he came upon one signed Helen. He did not know the writ-
ing. It was thin, angular, and old-fashioned. It began: my
dear William, and ended: your affectionate sister. Then it
struck him that it was from his own mother. He had never
seen a letter of hers before, and her handwriting was strange
to him. It was about himself.
My dear William,
Stephen wrote to you to thank you for your congratula-
tions on the birth of our son and your kind wishes to myself.
Thank God we are both well and I am deeply thankful for
the great mercy which has been shown me. Now that I can
hold a pen I want to tell you and dear Louisa myself how
truly grateful I am to you both for all your kindness to me
now and always since my marriage. I am going to ask you to
do me a great favour. Both Stephen and I wish you to be the
boy’s godfather, and we hope that you will consent. I know I
am not asking a small thing, for I am sure you will take the
responsibilities of the position very seriously, but I am espe-
cially anxious that you should undertake this office because
you are a clergyman as well as the boy’s uncle. I am very
anxious for the boy’s welfare and I pray God night and day
that he may grow into a good, honest, and Christian man.
With you to guide him I hope that he will become a soldier
in Christ’s Faith and be all the days of his life God-fearing,
humble, and pious.
Your affectionate sister,
Helen.
Philip pushed the letter away and, leaning forward, rest-

1