“One moment more, Mr Armstrong, and I shall have done.  After mature consideration, Miss Wyndham commissioned me to express her sentiments,—­and I must say they fully coincided with my own,—­to Lord Ballindine, and to explain to him, that she found herself obliged to—­to—­to retrace the steps which she had taken in the matter.  I did this in a manner as little painful to Lord Ballindine as I was able.  It is difficult, Mr Armstrong, to make a disagreeable communication palatable; it is very difficult to persuade a young man who is in love, to give up the object of his idolatry; but I trust Lord Ballindine will do me the justice to own that, on the occasion alluded to, I said nothing unnecessarily harsh—­nothing calculated to harass his feelings.  I appreciate and esteem Lord Ballindine’s good qualities, and I much regretted that prudence forbad me to sanction the near alliance he was anxious to do me the honour of making with me.”

Lord Cashel finished his harangue, and felt once more on good terms with himself.  He by no means intended offering any further vehement resistance to his ward’s marriage.  He was, indeed, rejoiced to have an opportunity of giving way decently.  But he could not resist the temptation of explaining his conduct, and making a speech.

“My lord,” said the parson, “what you tell me is only a repetition of what I heard from my young friend.”

“I am glad to hear it.  I trust, then, I may have the pleasure of feeling that Lord Ballindine attributes to me no personal unkindness?”

“Not in the least, Lord Cashel; very far from it.  Though Lord Ballindine may not be—­may not hitherto have been, free from the follies of his age, he has had quite sense enough to appreciate your lordship’s conduct.”

“I endeavoured, at any rate, that it should be such as to render me liable to no just imputation of fickleness or cruelty.”

“No one would for a moment accuse your lordship of either.  It is my knowledge of your lordship’s character in this particular which has induced me to undertake the task of begging you to reconsider the subject.  Lord Ballindine has, you are aware, sold his race-horses.”

“I had heard so, Mr Armstrong; though, perhaps, not on good authority.”

“He has; and is now living among his own tenantry and friends at Kelly’s Court.  He is passionately, devotedly attached to your ward, Lord Cashel; and with a young man’s vanity he still thinks that she may not be quite indifferent to him.”

“It was at her own instance, Mr Armstrong, that his suit was rejected.”