that I ought to address you like that; but
I always shall unless you tell me not. We have been expecting a
letter from you every day since you went. Your friend from Ennis
came here, and brought us the news of your uncle's death. We
were very sorry; at least I was certainly. I liked to think of
you a great deal better as my own Fred, than as a great lord.
But you will still be my own Fred always; will you not?

Mother said at once that it was a matter of course that you
should go to England; but your friend, whose name we never heard,
said that you had sent him especially to promise that you would
write quite immediately, and that you would come back very soon.
I do not know what he will think of me, because I asked him
whether he was quite, quite sure that you would come back. If he
thinks that I love you better than my own soul, he only thinks
the truth.

Pray,--pray write at once. Mother is getting vexed because there
is no letter. I am never vexed with my own darling love, but I
do so long for a letter. If you knew how I felt, I do think you
would write almost every day,--if it were only just one short
word. If you would say, 'Dear Love,' that would be enough. And
pray come. Oh do, do, pray come! Cannot you think how I must
long to see you! The gentleman who came here said that you would
come, and I know you will. But pray come soon. Think, now, how
you are all the world to me. You are more than all the world to
me.

I am not ill as I was when you were here. But I never go outside
the door now. I never shall go outside the door again till you
come. I don't care now for going out upon the rocks. I don't care
even for the birds as you are not here to watch them with me. I
sit with the skin of the seal you gave me behind my head, and I
pretend to sleep. But though I am quite still for hours I am not
asleep, but thinking always of you.

We have neither seen or heard anything more of my father,
and Father Marty says that you have managed about that very
generously. You are always generous and good. I was so wretched
all that day, that I thought I should have died. You will not
think ill of your Kate, will you, because her father is bad?

Pray write when you get this, and above all things let us know
when you will come to us.

Always, always, and always,

Your own

KATE.

Two days aft