"Your friend,

"C. BARRINGTON.

"P.S. Pray present my best regards to your mother, who was
many long years ago, a very dear friend of mine."

My reply was in the following words:

"MY DEAR MR. BARRINGTON:

"Pray set your mind at rest upon the subject of my somewhat
hasty departure: 'twas caused by no want of courtesy in any
member of the household at the hall, but by unavoidable
circumstances. You will not think me wanting in candor or
sincerity when I add that I think these circumstances were
better not alluded to at present.

"Truly and faithfully,

"ST. GEORGE CLEAVE."

Thus ended then our correspondence. Three years afterward I received
another letter, in a handwriting somewhat tremulous and broken. It
contained simply the words:

"I am very ill; if your convenience will permit, may I ask
you to come and see me, my young friend?

"C. BARRINGTON."