ter than all the world because you know it
already. I am not a bit jealous of the proper young lady, and I
hope that she will fall in love with your brother. Then some day
we shall be sisters;--shan't we? I should like to have a proper
young lady for my sister so much. Only, perhaps she would despise
me. Do come back soon. Everything is so dull while you are away!
You would come back to your own Kate if you knew how great a joy
it is to her when she sees you coming along the cliff.

Dearest, dearest love, I am always your own, own

KATE O'HARA.

Neville thought of showing Kate's letter to Miss Mellerby, but when
he read it a second time he made up his mind that he would keep it to
himself. The letter was all very well, and, as regarded the expressions
towards himself, just what it should be. But he felt that it was not
such a letter as Miss Mellerby would have written herself, and he was
a little ashamed of all that was said about the priest. Neither was he
proud of the pretty, finished, French hand-writing, over every letter of
which his love had taken so much pains. In truth, Kate O'Hara was better
educated than himself, and perhaps knew as much as Sophie Mellerby. She
could have written her letter quite as well in French as in English, and
she did understand something of the formation of her sentences. Fred
Neville had been at an excellent school, but it may be doubted whether
he could have explained his own written language. Nevertheless he was
a little ashamed of his Kate, and thought that Miss Mellerby might
perceive her ignorance if he shewed her letter.

He had sent for his brother in order that he might explain his scheme
and get his brother's advice;--but he found it very difficult to explain
his scheme to Jack Neville. Jack, indeed, from the very first would
not allow that the scheme was in any way practicable. "I don't quite
understand, Fred, what you mean. You don't intend to deceive her by a
false marriage?"

"Most assuredly not. I do not intend to deceive her at all."

"You must make her your wife, or not make her your wife."

"Undoubtedly she will be my wife. I am quite determined about that. She
has my word,--and over and above that, she is dearer to me than anything
else."

"If you marry her, her eldest son must of course be the heir to the
title."

"I am not at all so sure of that. All manner of queer things may be
arranged by marriages with Roman Catholics."