Selkirk had twenty times attempted to confess his affection to Catherine; he had as yet succeeded only in a few simple and hasty meteorological sentences, on the rain and fine weather.

He therefore wrote.
Unfortunately, Catherine could not easily read writing; she applied to him to interpret his letter.

This was a hard task for the poor boy, who, with a tremulous and hesitating voice, saw himself forced to stammer through all that burning phraseology which seemed to congeal under the breath of the reader.
The result however was that Catherine became his friend; she encouraged his confidence, and gave him good advice as an elder sister might have done.

She even called him by the familiar name of Sandy, which was a good omen.
Meanwhile his scanty resources became exhausted; he had no longer means to pay for the pot of ale which he consumed daily.

The idea of asking credit of his beloved, of opening with her an account, which he might never have means to pay, was revolting to him.