At the end of the meal I told my mother that I must go to the post officsA had an important letter to post. Can't it wait until tomorrow. my pet my mother asked"It can't,' I said My letter, of course, was to Agnes. A letter to Agne could not wait until tomorrow! I walked over to the dining- room door. A letter to a lady asked Mr Nixon, laughing. Yes, I replied. I walked to the post office and posted my letter. When got back home, I was sorry to see that Mr Nixon was still there. He was alone in the sitting-room, smoking. "Where's mother?'I asked. She's just gone out of the room,' he said. Come and sit down. Have a cigarette. I'd like to talk to you, Philip.' I took a cigarette and sat down. I hoped the talk was not going to be a long one. "Well, my boy, he said. "Would you like me as a stepfather?' For a second I could not move or speak. What?' I said. "You mean you and my mother Yes, my boy, I do. I asked her yesterday, and she said yes. I've wanted to ask her for a long time I think she knew that. Did she tell you in her letters? No? It's difficult to write in a letter, of course. She couldn't really write