“Yes, most likely.”
“And, of course, answering it?”
“Of course! That is, my wife will! As I hinted before, the correspondence of the two families is kept up by Palma and Judith.”
“Ah! So then you are the scribe, Mistress Stuart?”
“Oh, yes,” answered Palma, smiling.
“And you are thinking, ma’am, what a grand piece of news you will have to tell your friend in your very next letter.”
“Indeed, I am thinking of just such a delight!” exclaimed Palma, her eyes fairly dancing with anticipation.
“Then I am almost sorry to debar you from such a pleasure, ma’am, but I must beseech you not to make known my existence to my son and daughter until we meet them in England face to face,” said O’Melaghlin solemnly.
“Oh!” exclaimed Palma, with a look of great disappointment.
“I have good reasons for my request, and I will tell them to you. Your husband, my friend Wolfscliff there, will understand them. I wish to be introduced to the young ones simply as The O’Melaghlin. They have probably never heard that name before in all their lives. They can never suspect its connection with themselves——”