s Gwynne, whilst I go and see what's the matter.'

Miss Gwynne waited until she heard Mr Prothero come down from his wife's
room, calling busily for Owen, who was in the wheat-field, and telling
him to go and fetch Dr Richards. She then called Gladys, and said she
should have whatever her mistress could fancy from the Park, and that
she would come again in the afternoon and see how she was.

This done, Miss Gwynne went her own erratic way, which led her over
stiles, and through fields, and into various cottages, where she
alternately scolded, lectured, and condoled, accordingly as she thought
their inmates deserved the one or the other. She rarely left them,
however, without giving some substantial proof of the interest she felt
in their wants and trials, either by promises of food or clothing, or by
money given then and there. She finally anchored in a pretty
school-house that she had lately prevailed on her father to build, close
by the Park, where she found Miss Hall patiently superintending the
needlework of the girls. She gave two or three quick nods to the
children, and they curtseyed and bowed on her entrance, and then told
Miss Hall it was twelve o'clock, and she had had quite enough teaching
for one morning.

'I don't see what use it is having a school, if half the children are to
stay away,' she said to the mistress.

'It is the harvest, ma'am; they stay at home to take care of the younger
children; that is why we have so few.'

'Yes, and half go to the Dissenting schools; I see them creeping out.
Now, children,' turning to the terrified urchins, who were just about to
leave the room, if I see any of you going to any other school but this,
or going away from church to the meeting-houses, you shall neither have
new frocks, hats, nor shawls, nor shall you come to the tea-party I am
going to give you soon; do you hear?'

'Yes, ma'am--yes, ma'am,' muttered the children as they curtseyed and
bowed and slipped away.

As Freda and Miss Hall walked through the park to the house, the former
grew very excited in her manner.

'I tell you what it is, Nita,' she said, 'Lady Nugent is doing
everything in her power to win papa, and as soon as Miss Nugent marries,
or rather as soon as somebody marries her fortune, she will get papa to
marry her, I am sure of it. She must propose for him herself, for he
will never have the courage to do so; I see through her, and I am sure
you must do the same. He is flattered by the