I said I should remain till October." "I don't at all wish to act the tyrant to you." "I know that, uncle." Then there was a pause.

"I haven't spoken to you yet, Fred, on a matter which has caused me a great deal of uneasiness.

When you first came I was not strong enough to allude to it, and I left it to your aunt." Neville knew well what was coming now, and was aware that he was moved in a manner that hardly became his manhood.

"Your aunt tells me that you have got into some trouble with a young lady in the west of Ireland." "No trouble, uncle, I hope." "Who is she ?" Then there was another pause, but he gave a direct answer to the question.

"She is a Miss O'Hara." "A Roman Catholic ?" "Yes." "A girl of whose family you know nothing ?" "I know that she lives with her mother." "In absolute obscurity,--and poverty ?" "They are not rich," said Fred.
"Do not suppose that I regard poverty as a fault.