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After this the priest was gentler in his h the Earl was driven from his decision He ceased, at any rate, to assert that Kate should never be Countess of Scroope, and allowed both the mother and Father Marty to fall into a state of doubt as to what his last resolve o down to Ennistiain, and in the meantime he would see Father Marty at the inn There were many prayers addressed to hiuments used that he had been almost shaken "But you will co at the priest as she spoke

"I will certainly come to-morrow"

"No doubt he will come to-morrow," said Father Marty,--who intended to imply that if Lord Scroope escaped out of Ennistie, he would be very much surprised

"Shall I not say a word to Kate?" the Earl asked as he was going

"Not till you are prepared to tell her that she shall be your wife," said the priest

But this was a matter as to which Kate herself had a word to say When they were in the passage she caain rushed into her lover's aro with you anywhere if you will take me"

"He is to come up to-morrow, Kate," said hershall be settled then," said the priest, trying to assume a happy and contented tone

"Dearest Kate, I will be here by noon," said Lord Scroope, returning the girl's caresses

"And you will not desertthe priest behind hie

Father Marty was to be with hiain discussed He felt that he had been very weak, that he hadfact of the Captain's existence He had allowed the priest to talk hiirl's mother, and yet he was deterly than ever, now that he had again seen Kate O'Hara, that it would not be right that such a one as she should be race the place, but she would be unhappy in it, and would shame him After all the promises that he had made he could not, and he would not, take her to Scroope as his wife How could she hold up her head before such women as Sophie Mellerby and others like her? It would be known by all his friends that he had been taken in and swindled by low people in the County Clare, and he would be regarded by all around him as one who had absolutely ruined himself He had positively resolved that she should not be Countess of Scroope, and to that resolution he would adhere The foul-mouthed priest had called him a coward, but he would be no coward The mother had said that she would have his life If there were danger in that respect he ain determined that Kate O'Hara should never become Countess of Scroope