Captain O'Hara was nothing to him.

He supposed it had come from Castle Quin, and anything from Castle Quin he disbelieved.

He had given a promise once and he didn't understand why he should be asked for any further assurance.

He thought it very hard that his life should be made a burden to him by foul-mouthed rumours from Castle Quin.

That was the tenour of his letter to his aunt; but even that letter sufficed to make it almost certain that he could never marry the girl.