DEAREST CHARLES, --

     "I received one letter from Sebastian, a conspicuous object which was brought to me in my father's  presence one day when he was lunching at home; I saw him look curiously at it and bore it away to read in solitude. It was written on, and enveloped in, heavy late-Victorian paper, black-coroneted and black-bordered. I read it eagerly:--

BRIDESHEAD CASTLE 

WILTSHIRE

Dearest Charles, -

     I found a box of this paper at the back of a bureau so I must write to you as I am mourning for my lost innocence. It never looked like living. The doctors despaired of it from the start. 

     Soon I am off to Venice to stay with my papa in his palace of sin. I wish you were coming. I wish you were here.

     I am never quite alone. Members of my family keep turning up and collecting luggage and going away again, but the white raspberries are ripe. 

     I have a good mind not to take Aloysius to Venice. I don't want him to meet a lot of horrid Italian bears and pick up bad habits.

     Love or what you will.

S.

Evelyn Waugh, from Brideshead Revisited. 1944.