But he was supported in all his difficulties by the kindness of his friend, Lady Laura Standish.  He was often in the house in Portman Square, and was always received with cordiality, and, as he thought, almost with affection.  She would sit and talk to him, sometimes saying a word about her brother and sometimes about her father, as though there were more between them than the casual intimacy of London acquaintance.  And in Portman Square he had been introduced to Miss Effingham, and had found Miss Effingham to be—­very nice.  Miss Effingham had quite taken to him, and he had danced with her at two or three parties, talking always, as he did so, about Lady Laura Standish.

“I declare, Laura, I think your friend Mr. Finn is in love with you,” said Violet to Lady Laura one night.

“I don’t think that.  He is fond of me, and so am I of him.  He is so honest, and so naive without being awkward!  And then he is undoubtedly clever.”

“And so uncommonly handsome,” said Violet.

“I don’t know that that makes much difference,” said Lady Laura.

“I think it does if a man looks like a gentleman as well.”

“Mr. Finn certainly looks like a gentleman,” said Lady Laura.

“And no doubt is one,” said Violet.  “I wonder whether he has got any money.”

“Not a penny, I should say.”

“How does such a man manage to live?  There are so many men like that, and they are always mysteries to me.  I suppose he’ll have to marry an heiress.”

“Whoever gets him will not have a bad husband,” said Lady Laura Standish.

Phineas during the summer had very often met Mr. Kennedy.  They sat on the same side of the House, they belonged to the same club, they dined together more than once in Portman Square, and on one occasion Phineas had accepted an invitation to dinner sent to him by Mr. Kennedy himself.  “A slower affair I never saw in my life,” he said afterwards to Laurence Fitzgibbon.  “Though there were two or three men there who talk everywhere else, they could not talk at his table.”  “He gave you good wine, I should say,” said Fitzgibbon, “and let me tell you that that covers a multitude of sins.”  In spite, however, of all these opportunities for intimacy, now, nearly at the end of the session, Phineas had hardly spoken a dozen words to Mr. Kennedy, and really knew nothing whatsoever of the man, as one friend,—­or even as one acquaintance knows another.  Lady Laura had desired him to be on good terms with Mr. Kennedy, and for that reason he had dined with him.  Nevertheless he disliked Mr. Kennedy, and felt quite sure that Mr. Kennedy disliked him.  He was therefore rather surprised when he received the following note:—­

   Albany, Z 3, July 17, 186—.

   My dear Mr. Finn,

I shall have some friends at Loughlinter next month, and should be very glad if you will join us.  I will name the 16th August.  I don’t know whether you shoot, but there are grouse and deer.

   Yours truly,