rman O'Shea would have dared
rather than write a note; nor were the cares of the composition the
only difficulties of the undertaking. He knew of but one style of
correspondence--the report to his commanding officer, and in this he was
aided by a formula to be filled up. It was not, then, till after several
efforts, he succeeded in the following familiar epistle:--

'KILGOBBIN CASTLE.

'DEAR AUNT,--Don't blow up or make a rumpus, but if I had not taken the
mare and come over here this morning, the rascally police with their
search-warrant might have been down upon Mr. Kearney without a warning.
They were all stiff and cold enough at first: they are nothing to brag of
in the way of cordiality even yet--Dick especially--but they have asked me
to stay and dine, and, I take it, it is the right thing to do. Send me over
some things to dress with--and believe me your affectionate nephew,

'G. O'SHEA.

'I send the mare back, and shall walk home to-morrow morning.

'There's a great Castle swell here, a Mr. Walpole, but I have not made his
acquaintance yet, and can tell nothing about him.'

* * * * *

Towards a late hour of the afternoon a messenger arrived with an ass-cart
and several trunks from O'Shea's Barn, and with the following note:--

'DEAR NEPHEW GORMAN,--O'Shea's Barn is not an inn, nor are the horses
there at public livery. So much for your information. As you seem fond of
"warnings," let me give you one, which is, To mind your own affairs in
preference to the interests of other people. The family at Kilgobbin are
perfectly welcome--so far as I am concerned--to the fascinations of your
society at dinner to-day, at breakfast to-morrow, and so on, with such
regularity and order as the meals succeed. To which end, I have now sent
you all the luggage belonging to you here.--I am, very respectfully, your
aunt, ELIZABETH O'SHEA.'

The quaint, old-fashioned, rugged writing was marked throughout by a
certain distinctness and accuracy that betoken care and attention--there
was no evidence whatever of haste or passion--and this expression of a
serious determination, duly weighed and resolved on, made itself very
painfully felt by the young man as he read.

'I am turned out--in plain words, turned out!' said he aloud, as he sat
with the letter spread out before him. 'It must have been no common
quarrel--not a mere coldness between the families--when she resents my
coming here in this fa