“I am well aware of that, my lord.  But ladies, you know, do sometimes mistake their own feelings.  Miss Wyndham must have been attached to my friend, or she would not have received him as her lover.  Will you, my lord, allow me to see Miss Wyndham?  If she still expresses indifference to Lord Ballindine, I will assure her that she shall be no further persecuted by his suit.  If such be not the case, surely prudence need not further interfere to prevent a marriage desired by both the persons most concerned.  Lord Ballindine is not now a spendthrift, whatever he may formerly have been; and Miss Wyndham’s princely fortune, though it alone would never have induced my friend to seek her hand, will make the match all that it should be.  You will not object, my lord, to my seeing Miss Wyndham?”

“Mr Armstrong—­really—­you must be aware such a request is rather unusual.”

“So are the circumstances,” replied the parson.  “They also are unusual.  I do not doubt Miss Wyndham’s wisdom in rejecting Lord Ballindine, when, as you say, he appeared to be wedded to a life of extravagance.  I have no doubt she put a violent restraint on her own feelings; exercised, in fact, a self-denial which shows a very high tone of character, and should elicit nothing but admiration; but circumstances are much altered.”

Lord Cashel continued to raise objections to the parson’s request, though it was, throughout the interview, his intention to accede to it.  At last, he gave up the point, with much grace, and in such a manner as he thought should entitle him to the eternal gratitude of his ward, Lord Ballindine, and the parson.  He consequently rang the bell, and desired the servant to give his compliments to Miss Wyndham and tell her that the Rev. Mr Armstrong wished to see her, alone, upon business of importance.

Mr Armstrong felt that his success was much greater than he had had any reason to expect, from Lord Ballindine’s description of his last visit at Grey Abbey.  He had, in fact, overcome the only difficulty.  If Miss Wyndham really disliked his friend, and objected to the marriage, Mr Armstrong was well aware that he had only to return, and tell his friend so in the best way he could.  If, however, she still had a true regard for him, if she were the Fanny Wyndham Ballindine had described her to be, if she had ever really been devoted to him, if she had at all a wish in her heart to see him again at her feet, the parson felt that he would have good news to send back to Kelly’s Court; and that he would have done the lovers a service which they never could forget.

“At any rate, Mr Armstrong,” said Lord Cashel, as the parson was bowing himself backwards out of the room, “you will join our family circle while you are in the neighbourhood.  Whatever may be the success of your mission—­and I assure you I hope it may be such as will be gratifying to you, I am happy to make the acquaintance of any friend of Lord Ballindine’s, when Lord Ballindine chooses his friends so well.” (This was meant as a slap at Dot Blake.) “You will give me leave to send down to the town for your luggage.”  Mr Armstrong made no objection to this proposal, and the luggage was sent for.