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 after 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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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