I think I have done my business a little in the veni vidi vici style.  What has effected the change in Lord Cashel’s views, I need not trouble myself to guess.  You will soon learn all about it from Miss Wyndham.

I will not, in a letter, express my admiration, &c., &c., &c.  But I will proclaim in Connaught, on my return, that so worthy a bride was never yet brought down to the far west.  Lord Cashel will, of course, have some pet bishop or dean to marry you; but, after what has passed, I shall certainly demand the privilege of christening the heir.

   Believe me, dear Frank,

   Your affectionate friend,

   GEORGE ARMSTRONG.

Lord Cashel’s letter was as follows.  It cost his lordship three hours to compose, and was twice copied.  I trust, therefore, it is a fair specimen of what a nobleman ought to write on such an occasion.

   Grey Abbey, April, 1844.

   My dear lord,

Circumstances, to which I rejoice that I need not now more particularly allude, made your last visit at my house a disagreeable one to both of us.  The necessity under which I then laboured, of communicating to your lordship a decision which was likely to be inimical to your happiness, but to form which my duty imperatively directed me, was a source of most serious inquietude to my mind.  I now rejoice that that decision was so painful to you—­has been so lastingly painful; as I trust I may measure your gratification at a renewal of your connection with my family, by the acuteness of the sufferings which an interruption of that connexion has occasioned you.

I have, I can assure you, my lord, received much pleasure from the visit of your very estimable friend, the Reverend Mr Armstrong; and it is no slight addition to my gratification on this occasion, to find your most intimate friendship so well bestowed.  I have had much unreserved conversation to-day with Mr Armstrong, and I am led by him to believe that I may be able to induce you to give Lady Cashel and myself the pleasure of your company at Grey Abbey.  We shall be truly delighted to see your lordship, and we sincerely hope that the attractions of Grey Abbey may be such as to induce you to prolong your visit for some time.

Perhaps it might be unnecessary for me now more explicitly to allude to my ward; but still, I cannot but think that a short but candid explanation of the line of conduct I have thought it my duty to adopt, may prevent any disagreeable feeling between us, should you, as I sincerely trust you will, do us the pleasure of joining our family circle.  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.