est, and nearly all afterwards to Puddock.

'But in a marriage settlement,' said the attorney (so they called
themselves in those days), 'it is usual; and here his tone became so
gentle that I can't say positively what he uttered.'

'Oh--a--_that_,' she said, 'a--well, you can speak to Lieutenant
Puddock, if you wish. I only say for myself a life estate; Lieutenant
Puddock can deal with the remainder as he pleases.' And Aunt Rebecca
actually blushed a pretty little pink blush. I believe she did not think
there was much practical utility in the attorney's suggestion, and if an
angel in her hearing had said of her what he once said of Sarah, she
would not have laughed indeed, but I think she would have shaken her
head.

She was twenty years and upwards his senior; but I don't know which
survived the other, for in this life the battle is not always to the
strong.

Their wedding was a very quiet affair, and the talk of the village was
soon directed from it to the approaching splendours of the union of Miss
Gertrude and my Lord Dunoran.

CHAPTER XCIX.

THE STORY ENDS.

The old minutes of the Irish House of Lords can better explain than I
the parliamentary process by which all the consequences of the judgment
against the late Lord Dunoran were abrogated, as respected his son. An
ancient name rescued from the shadow of dishonour, and still greater
estates, made my lord and lady as happy as things can. So for the
recluse Mervyn, and the fair Gertrude Chattesworth, our story ends like
a fairy tale.

A wedding in those days was a celebration and a feast; and it was deemed
fitting that the union of Gertrude Chattesworth and the youthful Lord
Dunoran should await the public vindication of his family, and the
authentic restoration of all their rights and possessions. On the eve of
this happy day, leaning on the youthful arm of kindly Dan Loftus, there
came a figure not seen there for many months before, very much changed,
grown, oh, how old! It was the good rector, who asked to see Miss
Gertrude.

And so when he entered the room, she ran to meet him with a little cry;
and she threw her arms about his neck and sobbed a good deal on that
old, cassocked shoulder, and longed to ask him to let her be as a
daughter to him. But he understood her and, after a while, he wished her
joy, very kindly. And my Lord Dunoran came in, and was very glad to see
him, and very tender and reverent too; and the good doctor, as he could