CHAPTER II 
     
    
   
   
    
     A LETTER OF DESTINY 
     
    
   
   
    
     RIC, finding that his father had not 
     
     E yet returned from the college, went 
     
     into the library and sat down to 
     
     read a letter he had picked up from the 
     
     hall table. It was from Larry West, and 
     
     after the first few lines Eric’s face lost 
     
     the absent look it had worn and assumed 
     
     an expression of interest. 
     
    

    
     “ I am writing to ask a favour of you, 
     
     Marshall,” wrote West. “ The fact is, 
     
     I’ve fallen into the hands of the Philis— 
     
     tines—that is to say, the doctors. I’ve 
     
     not been feeling very fit all winter but 
     
     I’ve held on, hoping to finish out the 
     
     year. 
     
    

    
     “ Last week my landlady—who is a 
     
     saint in spectacles and calico—locked at 
     
     me one morning at the breakfast table and 
     
     said, very gently, ‘You must go to town 
     
    

    
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