CHAPTER XV.
THE TRAITOR.
Upon the day following, O’Connor had not yet received any answer to his letter. He was, however, not a little surprised instead to receive a second visit from young Ashwoode.
“I am very glad, my dear O’Connor,” said the young man as he entered, “to have found you alone. I have been wishing very much for this opportunity, and was half afraid as I came upstairs that I should again have been disappointed. The fact is, I wish much to speak to you upon a subject of great difficulty and delicacy—one in which, however, I naturally feel so strong an interest, that I may speak to you upon it, and freely, too, without impertinence. I allude to your attachment to my sister. Do not imagine, my dear O’Connor, that I am going to lecture you on prudence and all that; and above
