er this, while the letter was still unanswered, there came
another from Mrs. O'Hara which was, if possible, more grievous to him
than that from her daughter.

"My Lord," the letter began. When he read this he turned from it with a
sickening feeling of disgust. Of course the woman knew that he was now
Earl of Scroope; but it would have been so desirable that there should
have been no intercourse between her and him except under the name by
which she had hitherto known him. And then in the appellation as she
used it there seemed to be a determination to reproach him which must,
he knew, lead to great misery.

MY LORD,

The messenger you sent to us brought us good news, and told us
that you were gone home to your own affairs. That I suppose was
right, but why have you not written to us before this? Why have
you not told my poor girl that you will come to her, and atone
to her for the injury you have done in the only manner now
possible? I cannot and do not believe that you intend to evade
the solemn promises that you have made her, and allow her to
remain here a ruined outcast, and the mother of your child. I
have thought you to be both a gentleman and a christian, and I
still think so. Most assuredly you would be neither were you
disposed to leave her desolate, while you are in prosperity.

I call upon you, my lord, in the most solemn manner, with all
the energy and anxiety of a mother,--of one who will be of all
women the most broken-hearted if you wrong her,--to write at
once and let me know when you will be here to keep your promise.
For the sake of your own offspring I implore you not to delay.

We feel under deep obligations to you for what you did in
respect of that unhappy man. We have never for a moment doubted
your generosity.

Yours, My Lord,

With warmest affection, if you will admit it,

C. O'HARA.

P.S. I ask you to come at once and keep your word. Were you to
think of breaking it, I would follow you through the world.

The young Earl, when he received this, was not at a loss for a moment to
attribute the body of Mrs. O'Hara's letter to Father Marty's power of
composition, and the postscript to the unaided effort of the lady
herself. Take it as he might--as coming from Mrs. O'Hara or from the
priest,--he found the letter to be a great burden to him. He had not as
yet answered the one received from Kate, as to the genui