Two months later, Captain Davenant received a letter from Mr. Conyers, saying that he had arrived with his wife and daughter at Dublin on the previous day, and should be glad to make his acquaintance, and that of his son.

“My wife,” he said, “has informed me of certain love passages, which have taken place between Claire and your son, and I shall be glad to talk to you concerning them.”

Captain Davenant and Walter at once rode over to Dublin, the latter full of delight, and yet with a considerable amount of trepidation as to the interview between his father and Mr. Conyers.  His mind was, however, speedily put at rest, for upon entering, Mr. Conyers at once took him by the hand, and said: 

“I am glad, indeed, of the opportunity of thanking you, in person, for the inestimable service you rendered to my wife and daughter.  I find, from my wife, that Claire has discovered a means of repaying you for your service, and as her happiness is, she tells me, dependent on my giving my consent to the plan, I tell you at once that I do so, very heartily.  I think you had better wait for a while, say two or three years, but we need not settle that at present.

“Come here, Claire.”

He placed the girl’s hand in Walter’s.

“Take her,” he said, “and make her happy.”

The next day, Mr. Conyers, with his wife and daughter, accompanied Captain Davenant and Walter back to Davenant Castle, where they stayed for some days.

The Whitefoots did not long remain neighbours of the Davenants.  Old Zephaniah had passed away, ere the peace was signed, and, soon after Captain Davenant returned, Jabez called at the castle.

“We are going away,” he said.  “John has made up his mind to become a trader, in London, and Hannah and I would be lonely without him, and, moreover, we are both weary of our life here, and have far more than enough money laid by for our needs, and for giving John the means of entering some well-established firm, when the time shall come.  As to the lands here, they are ours now; but the next turn of the wheel might give them back to you.  Besides, we do not wish to be troubled with their care.  I therefore intend to revert to the offer which you made me, when the Parliament restored the land to you.  I have received a good offer for our house and farm, and this I have accepted.  The rest of the estates I hand back to you, from whom they were taken by the sword.  My wife wishes this, as well as myself.  John is eager that it should be so.  He will be glad that his friend should be heir to the estates of his ancestors.”

“But we could not accept such a generous offer,” Captain Davenant exclaimed.  “It is out of all reason.”

“That I know not, friend Davenant; but I know that I, and my wife and John, have so made up our minds, and we are of a race not given to change.  The land would but be an incumbrance and a trouble to us.  John would far rather make his path in life, as he chooses it, than live upon the rents of ill-gotten lands.  You will receive your own again, and all parties will be satisfied.”