‘When are we to have our game at chess?’ interrupted Mr Gwynne.  ’The poor of London is a subject I quite dread to hear discussed, it is so hopeless.  One can do no good, and what is the use of tormenting oneself about it here in Wales.’

’Oh, papa! they want very decided measures; plenty of police, active magistrates, and I don’t know what besides,’ said Freda.

‘Would you allow me to supply what you have omitted?’ asked Rowland; ’they want Christian sympathy, Christian teaching, brotherly kindness, and the aid of the rich and powerful.’

Freda considered Rowland’s finale to her sentence impertinent and was about to take up the defence of her magisterial system very warmly, when she met a glance so earnest and appealing, and withal so beautiful in its earnestness, that she could not find in her heart to answer it by a hard look or word; so, for want of better reply, she went to prepare the chess-table.

‘I wish you joy of that Saracenic game,’ she said ironically, as her father and Rowland sat down to chess, not perhaps quite by the wish of one of the pair.

‘I thought you liked chess, Freda?’ said Miss Hall.

’Oh, pretty well, when I can get any one who does not beat me.  I hate so to lose a game that I think it is better not to play at all than to run the risk of feeling in a passion, and not being able to give vent to it.’

‘Perhaps the better plan would be to control the passion,’ said Miss Hall.

’Impossible!  I am sure it must be just such a feeling as a good general would have if he lost a battle, after having done his best to win it.’

’I suppose the best general is always the calmest, both in victory and defeat,’ murmured Rowland, without taking his eyes from his men.

‘If you would oblige me by not talking,’ said Mr Gwynne nervously; ’I can never play if my opponent talks.’

‘I beg your pardon,’ said Rowland; ‘I know it is very disagreeable.’

‘Are you too tired to visit some of your old haunts, Serenita?’ said Freda.  ’By the way that would be a good name for Mr Prothero’s ideal general.’

‘Not quite,’ began Rowland, but was silent in a moment.

’My dear Freda, are you going out?  I really am sorry to stop your amusement, and so forth, but I cannot play,’ said Mr Gwynne.

‘Exactly, papa; we will go directly if Miss Hall likes.’

The three ladies left the room, and, as Rowland glanced after them, he very decidedly wished that he might be permitted to accompany them.  One other great wish he also had at his heart, the conversion of Miss Gwynne to a purer and higher tone of mind.  He did not, we grieve to say, bestow a similar pastoral thought on Miss Nugent.

’That position of your queen at such an early stage of the game must be an oversight, I think.  Excuse me, but I could not take such an unfair advantage,’ said Mr Gwynne.

Rowland was roused at once.  He gave himself up to his game, and an hour afterwards, when the ladies returned from their walk, and candles were ordered, it was still in progress, but he had the best of it.