ake, try
to cut out Lady Nugent, I daresay you and I will nurse the black cat
together.'

Freda's conversation was checked by the sound of horses' hoofs behind;
she turned sound and saw a gentleman riding slowly up the drive. He soon
overtook them, and raising his hat, said,--

'Miss Gwynne! I am sure it must be Miss Gwynne; am I right?'

Freda bowed.

'You do not remember me! twelve years make a great difference! and you
were a child when I left.'

'Colonel Vaughan! Oh! I am so glad to see you!' claimed Freda. 'And
papa will be charmed; we heard you were in England, but did not know you
were in this county.'

Colonel Vaughan dismounted, and shook hands with Freda, evidently with
all his heart, then glancing at Miss Hall, started, and said,--

'Yes--no--I beg your pardon, surely not Miss Hall.'

'Yes,' said Miss Hall, colouring slightly, and holding out her hand, I
am very glad to welcome you home again, but can well imagine you did not
expect to see me here.'

By this time they were at the house, and Freda was planning introducing
Colonel Vaughan to her father as a stranger, and seeing whether he would
recognise him or not.

She accordingly preceded him to the study, and said to Mr Gwynne, 'A
gentleman wishes to see you, papa.'

Mr Gwynne rose and made his bow, and motioned to a seat in his usually
nervous manner.

'How do you do, Mr Gwynne? Don't you know me?' said the colonel,
standing up before him.

'I beg your pardon--no--I do not think I have ever--impossible! It
cannot be my godson, Gwynne Vaughan?'

'The very same!' said the colonel. 'I only came down last night, and
this is the first place I have visited.'

'I am very glad to see you, my dear fellow,' said Mr Gwynne, absolutely
rising from his chair.

'And this was what the bells were ringing for last night?' said Freda,
looking flushed and handsome.

'In spite of my poverty they did me that honour,' said the colonel. 'I
heard the old place was likely to be let again, and so ran down to have
a look at it first, and beat up my old friends. It was years ago that I
went, a youth of nineteen, into the army, and twelve since I have been
here, and I have been all the world over since then; but I come back and
find everything much as I left it.'

'But surely you will not go away again?' said Mr Gwynne.

'I am not rich enough to keep up the old place as it ought to be kept,
and the debts are not half wiped off yet, so I don't mean to settle d