whom he can trust, whether she has changed hers. If she tells you that
she has, I would not follow her farther though she were twice as rich
as Croesus. I'm not hunting her for her money; but I am determined that
Lord Cashel shall not make us both miserable by forcing her into a
marriage with his _roué_ of a son."

"Well, Ballindine, I'll go; but mind, you must not blame me if I fail.
I'll do the best I can for you."

"Of course I won't. When will you be able to start?"

"Why, I suppose there's no immediate hurry?" said the parson,
remembering that the new suit of clothes must be procured.

"Oh, but there is. Kilcullen will be there at once; and considering how
long it is since I saw Fanny--three months, I believe--no time should
be lost."

"How long is her brother dead?"

"Oh, a month--or very near it."

"Well, I'll go Monday fortnight; that'll do, won't it?"

It was at last agreed that the parson was to start for Grey Abbey on
the Monday week following; that he was to mention to no one where he
was going; that he was to tell his wife that he was going on business
he was not allowed to talk about;--she would be a very meek woman if
she rested satisfied with that!--and that he was to present himself at
Grey Abbey on the following Wednesday.