"Your affectionate uncle,
"HATTO HEINE.

"I have told nobody yet, and the enclosed will require my brother's
signature; but I suppose he will not object."

* * *

"But he does not know it, mamma," said Isa. "Who is to tell him?
Oh, mamma, you must tell him."

"Nay, my dear; but it must be your own present to him."

"I could not give it him. It is Uncle Hatto's present Mamma, when I
left him I thought that his eye was kind to me."

"His heart, at any rate, has been very kind." And then again they
looked over the document, and talked of the wedding which must now
be near at hand. But still they had not as yet decided how Herbert
should be informed.

At last Isa resolved that she herself would write to him. She did
write, and this was her letter:-


"Dear Herbert,

"Mamma and I wish to see you, and beg that you will come up to us
this evening. We have tidings for you which I hope you will receive
with joy. I may as well tell you at once, as I do not wish to