d to him respecting Kate O'Hara.

He had received an answer from Kate to his letter, prepared in a fashion
very different from that of his own. He had seated himself at a table
and in compliance with the pledge given by him, had scrawled off his
epistle as fast as he could write it. She had taken a whole morning to
think of hers, and had re-copied it after composing it, and had then
read it with the utmost care, confessing to herself, almost with tears,
that it was altogether unworthy of him to whom it was to be sent. It was
the first love letter she had ever written,--probably the first letter
she had ever written to a man, except those short notes which she would
occasionally scrawl to Father Marty in compliance with her mother's
directions. The letter to Fred was as follows;--

ARDKILL COTTAGE,
10th April, 18--.

MY DEAREST FRED,

I received your dear letter three or four days ago, and it made me
so happy. We were sorry that you should have such an uncomfortable
journey; but all that would be over and soon forgotten when you
found yourself in your comfortable home and among your own friends.
I am very glad to hear that your uncle is better. The thought of
finding him so ill must have made your journey very sad. As he is
so much better, I suppose you will come back soon to your poor
little Kate.

There is no news at all to send you from Liscannor. Father Marty
was up here yesterday and says that your boat is all safe at
Lahinch. He says that Barney Morony is an idle fellow, but as he
has nothing to do he can't help being idle. You should come back
and not let him be idle any more. I think the sea gulls know that
you are away, because they are wheeling and screaming about louder
and bolder than ever.

Mother sends her best love. She is very well. We have had nothing
to eat since you went because it has been Lent. So, if you had
been here, you would not have been able to get a bit of luncheon.
I dare say you have been a great deal better off at Scroope.
Father Marty says that you Protestants will have to keep your
Lent hereafter,--eighty days at a time instead of forty; and that
we Catholics will be allowed to eat just what we like, while you
Protestants will have to look on at us. If so, I think I'll manage
to give you a little bit.

Do come back to your own Kate as soon as you can. I need not tell
you that I love you bet