’Not at all.  She is very sad to leave us, but she says she would rather do so, and would rather serve you than any other lady in the world.’

’Well, perhaps it may be best for all parties.  I think she is too young and too pretty to live alone at the school-house, and besides, I don’t particularly want to change mistresses:  so I mean to have her as my maid, and then I can take care of her myself.  You know I have not had a regular maid since that disagreeable affair of Evans; one of the housemaids has waited on me, and I don’t like maids, they are so in one’s way.  But I shall like Gladys.  And she can help Miss Hall in the school, and go and see you every evening if she likes, when we are at dinner.  In short, I am sure it is a capital plan for us all, and will make matters easy for you.’

’You are so very kind, Miss Gwynne, I do not know what we should have done without you.  Gladys would have begged her way back to Ireland, and died there.’

’I mustn’t stay any longer; I have outstayed my five minutes over and over again.  You can send Gladys when you like.  I have heaps of dresses, and clothes, of all kinds for her, so don’t you think of giving her anything new.  I will give her the same wages that I gave Evans, so she will feel quite independent; and I will put her under the particular charge of the housekeeper, until she gets into the ways of the house.  Now I must go; what will Miss Hall say?’

Well might Freda ask, ‘What will Miss Hall say?’ She walked as quickly as possible to the waterfall, she was not there; up the hill again, not there; home through the wood, not there; into the house, not there.  She waited a little while with her hat on, but as no Mr Jones or Miss Hall arrived, she took off her walking things, and went about her usual avocations, saying to herself, with a smile on her lips the while,—­

’I never thought I was a manoeuvrer before.  It is evident they don’t want me, or they would have waited for me, and I have no doubt they are much happier without me.  I must go and look, after my father.’

Freda found Mr Gwynne in his library.

‘Where is your guest, Freda?  What is he like?  Is he a bore?’ were his queries.

’He is walking with Miss Hall, and my impression is they are very good company.  He is very quiet, very grave, has no wonderful travellers’ stories, and none of the ologies, and can play chess, for I asked him.  I don’t think him a bore, and I am sure Miss Hall doesn’t.’

‘Very well, then I will go into the drawing-room against he comes in.’

’Thanks; and I will whisper a little secret into your ear; he is an old lover of Serena’s, and I cannot help hoping he is come to propose for her.’

Mr Gwynne was alive and interested in a moment.  It is curious how on the alert people are when they hear of a love affair.

’I will go and dress at once; he must be nice if Miss Hall likes him, for she is certainly the least intrusive, and all that sort of thing.  Is he like Rowland Prothero?’