I hope Pendergast’s is treating you well. I only write to inform you that you now have a younger sister, Cassandra, born this Tuesday. She is healthy – though be glad that you are not at home to hear her wailing at the top of her lungs all night.

If you wonder why your mother is not the one writing, it is because she is quite exhausted from the birth, and has been abed for the last few days to recover. (I am sure you are too busy to want desperately for letters from your mother in the first place, but there is no cause to fret: I expect she will write to you sooner or later.)

Nevertheless – if you were to receive a summons to return home, I must insist that you do not delay, but come at once. Your schooling can wait. Do you understand me?

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