The letter he despatched to Ireland, but had the wisdom not to read aloud even to Meggy, contained nothing save her own words, "Dear Kaytherine, if you dinna send ten shillings immediately, your puir auld mother will have neither house nor hame.

I'm crying to you for't, Kaytherine; hearken and you'll hear my cry across the cauldriff sea." It was a call from the heart which transported Katherine to Thrums in a second of time, she seemed to see her mother again, grown frail since last they met--and so all was well for Meggy.

Tommy did not put all this to himself but he felt it, and after that he _could not_ have written the letter differently.

Happy Tommy! To be an artist is a great thing, but to be an artist and not know it is the most glorious plight in the world.
Other fickle clients put their correspondence into the boy's hands, and Cathro found it out but said nothing.

Dignity kept him in check; he did not even let the tawse speak for him.