neness of which
he had entertained no doubt. How should he answer such letters? Some
answer must of course be sent, and must be the forerunner of his future
conduct. But how should he write his letter when he had not as yet
resolved what his conduct should be?

He did attempt to write a letter, not to either of the ladies, but to
the priest, explaining that in the ordinary sense of the word he could
not and would not marry Miss O'Hara, but that in any way short of that
legitimate and usual mode of marriage, he would bind himself to her, and
that when so bound he would be true to her for life. He would make any
settlement that he, Father Marty, might think right either upon the
mother or upon the daughter. But Countess of Scroope the daughter of
that Captain O'Hara should not become through his means. Then he
endeavoured to explain the obligation laid upon him by his uncle, and
the excuse which he thought he could plead in not having been informed
of Captain O'Hara's existence. But the letter when written seemed to him
to be poor and mean, cringing and at the same time false. He told
himself that it would not suffice. It was manifest to him that he must
go back to County Clare, even though he should encounter Mrs. O'Hara,
dagger in hand. What was any personal danger to himself in such an
affair as this? And if he did not fear a woman's dagger, was he to fear
a woman's tongue,--or the tongue of a priest? So he tore the letter, and
resolved that he would write and name a day on which he would appear at
Ardkill. At any rate such a letter as that might be easily written, and
might be made soft with words of love.

DEAREST KATE,

I will be with you on the 15th or on the 16th at latest. You
should remember that a man has a good deal to do and think of
when he gets pitchforked into such a new phase of life as mine.
Do not, however, think that I quarrel with you, my darling.
That I will never do. My love to your mother.

Ever your own,

FRED.

I hate signing the other name.

This letter was not only written but sent.

CHAPTER VII.

SANS REPROCHE.

Three or four days after writing his letter to Kate O'Hara, the Earl
told his aunt that he must return to Ireland, and he named the day on
which he would leave Scroope. "I did not think that you would go back
there," she said. He could see by the look of her face and by the
anxious glance of her eye that she had in her heart the fear