LetterfromMajor—GeneralSirColinAlexanderMacKelpie，V。C。，K。C。B。，ofCroom，Ross，N。B。，toRupertSentLeger，Esq。，14，NewlandPark，Dulwich，London，S。E。
July4，1892。
MYDEARGODSON，IamtrulysorryIamunabletoagreewithyourrequestthatIshouldacquiesceinyourdesiretotransfertoMissJanetMacKelpiethepropertybequeathedtoyoubyyourmother，ofwhichpropertyIamatrustee。Letmesayatoncethat，haditbeenpossibletometodoso，Ishouldhavehelditaprivilegetofurthersuchawish——notbecausethebeneficiarewhomyouwouldcreateisanearkinswomanofmyown。That，intruth，ismyrealdifficulty。Ihaveundertakenatrustmadebyanhonourableladyonbehalfofheronlyson——sonofamanofstainlesshonour，andadearfriendofmyown，andwhosesonhasarichheritageofhonourfrombothparents，andwhowill，Iamsure，liketolookbackonhiswholelifeasworthyofhisparents，andofthosewhomhisparentstrusted。Youwillsee，Iamsure，thatwhatsoeverImightgrantregardinganyoneelse，myhandsaretiedinthismatter。
Andnowletmesay，mydearboy，thatyourletterhasgivenmethemostintensepleasure。Itisanunspeakabledelighttometofindinthesonofyourfather——amanwhomIloved，andaboywhomIlove——
thesamegenerosityofspiritwhichendearedyourfathertoallhiscomrades，oldaswellasyoung。Comewhatmay，Ishallalwaysbeproudofyou；andiftheswordofanoldsoldier——itisallIhave——