CHAPTER III.
FRED NEVILLE RECEIVES A VISITOR AT ENNIS.
For something over three weeks after his walk with the priest Neville saw neither of the two ladies of Ardkill.

Letters were frequent between the cottage and the barracks at Ennis, but,--so said Fred himself, military duties detained him with the troop.

He explained that he had been absent a great deal, and that now Captain Johnstone was taking his share of ease.

He was all alone at the barracks, and could not get away.
There was some truth in this, created perhaps by the fact that as he didn't stir, Johnstone could do so.

Johnstone was backwards and forwards, fishing at Castle Connel, and Neville was very exact in explaining that for the present he was obliged to give up all the delights of the coast.
But the days were days of trial to him.
A short history of the life of Captain O'Hara was absolutely sent to him by the Countess of Scroope.