Page:The life and letters of Sir John Henniker Heaton bt. (IA lifelettersofsi00port).pdf/98

 feeling this was rather hard treatment of an old friend, ran after the postman and paid the fine herself. When the letter was opened it was found to contain a cheque H. H. had made arrangements for the for £100. publication of Sir Charles's "Life of Carlyle," and this was the first cheque from the publishers.

This little episode when repeated to H. H. confirmed him more fully than ever in his opinion that the English post office is grossly unfair in fining the innocent recipient double postage. Sir Charles under the more generous French system was, after all, only asked to pay the exact amount due.

A letter from Sir Charles, at Nice, to H. H., at Cannes:

You are demented to think of going to Rome or Pau.

You left London to avoid the cold, and there is cold everywhere in Europe except where you are. Sit still and enjoy the sunshine, and you may turn your leisure to good purpose by planning the business of next session as far as you are concerned. If the Government include Penny Postage in their programme it will be a great triumph for you.

I answered your last letter to London, but I will answer you again if you come over to lunch some day, say Wednesday, or any other day that suits you better, if you send me a telegram the night before.

If it be reasonably probable that Penny Postage is coming on, you ought to prepare a short modest, practical speech, on that success, and an alternative one to be ready in case the Government do nothing. Here is work for a fortnight better than scampering over Europe. When I see you I will suggest something still more necessary to be done in your brief holiday.