e. I must own, my dear lord, that, a few months since, I
feared you were wedded to the expensive pleasures of the turf.--Your
acceptance of the office of Steward at the Curragh meetings
confirmed the reports which reached me from various quarters. My
ward's fortune was then not very considerable; and, actuated by an
uncle's affection for his niece as well as a guardian's caution for
his ward, I conceived it my duty to ascertain whether a withdrawal
from the engagement in contemplation between Miss Wyndham and
yourself would be detrimental to her happiness. I found that my
ward's views agreed with my own. She thought her own fortune
insufficient, seeing that your habits were then expensive: and,
perhaps, not truly knowing the intensity of her own affection, she
coincided in my views. You are acquainted with the result. These
causes have operated in inducing me to hope that I may still welcome
you by the hand as my dear niece's husband. Her fortune is very
greatly increased; your character is--I will not say altered--is now
fixed and established. And, lastly and chiefly, I find--I blush, my
lord, to tell a lady's secret--that my ward's happiness still
depends on you.

I am sure, my dear lord, I need not say more. We shall be delighted
to see you at your earliest convenience. We wish that you could have
come to us before your friend left, but I regret to learn from him
that his parochial duties preclude the possibility of his staying
with us beyond Thursday.

I shall anxiously wait for your reply. In the meantime I beg to
assure you, with the joint kind remembrances of all our party, that
I am,

Most faithfully yours,

CASHEL.

Mr Armstrong descended to the drawing-room, before dinner, looking most
respectable, with a stiff white tie and the new suit expressly prepared
for the occasion. He was introduced to Lady Cashel and Lady Selina as
a valued friend of Lord Ballindine, and was received, by the former at
least, in a most flattering manner. Lady Selina had hardly reconciled
herself to the return of Lord Ballindine. It was from no envy at her
cousin's happiness; she was really too high-minded, and too falsely
proud, also, to envy anyone. But it was the harsh conviction of her
mind, that no duties should be disregarded, and that all duties were
disagreeable: she was always opposed to the doing of anything which
appeared to be the e