"No;—not first from me. There are many reasons why I would not have mentioned your names could I have helped it. He has wished me to marry another girl,—and especially a Protestant girl. That was impossible."
"That must be impossible now, Fred," said Kate, looking up into his face.
"Quite so, dearest; but why should I have vexed him, seeing that he is so good to me, and that he must be gone so soon?"
"Who had told him of us?" asked Mrs. O'Hara.
"That woman down there at Castle Quin."
"Lady Mary?"
"Foul-tongued old maid that she is," exclaimed Fred. "She writes to my aunt by every post, I believe."
"What evil can she say of us?"
"She does say evil. Never mind what. Such a woman always says evil of those of her sex who are good-looking."
"There, mother;—that's for you," said Kate, laughing. "I don't care what she says."