or answer, Miss Hall went to her and kissed her, and when Freda looked
up, she saw that there was an unusually bright colour in her cheeks, and
something very like tears in her eyes.

Freda threw her arms round her friend, exclaiming,--

'I know, Nita dear! It is all signed, sealed, and settled _n'est-ce
pas_?'

And so it proved; during that long walk the old love had become new, and
two people as deserving of happiness as most of the poor sinful mortals
who are for ever seeking her, were made perfectly happy for that day at
least.

Freda's reflections, whilst she sat alone, listlessly brushing her hair
and dressing herself, were as follows:--

'How happy she seems; she looks twenty years younger; and he, an
elderly, iron-grey clergyman; it would be ridiculous, only it is all so
true and good. I suppose, after all, there is something grand, as the
poet says, in constancy, and love, and the like; and I ought to pity
Rowland Prothero, if he really cares for me. And yet I don't; on the
contrary, I could be over head and ears in love with another man
to-morrow if he would only ask me; and he is gone away without telling
me that he cares for me, if he does, as I cannot help hoping. But
nothing shall induce me to give my heart to any one, unless I am asked
for it, of that I am resolved; no, not if I were to die in the struggle
to keep it.'

With this prudent and womanly resolution, Freda got up from her seat,
hastily put on her dress, and went to Miss Hall, to insist on dressing
her on that particular day.

'You must put on the pink and white muslin that you look so well in. I
insist on it, and will have my way to-night,' she said, and had her way
accordingly, and the satisfaction of hearing her father remark
afterwards, that he had 'not seen Miss Hall look so well for years. She
really was a very pretty ladylike person, and Mr Jones ought to think
himself very fortunate, and all that sort of thing.'

To judge from Mr Jones' manner and countenance, he did think himself
very happy and fortunate; and his happiness and good fortune had the
effect of making him so very agreeable, that Mr Gwynne was quite pleased
with him, and strongly urged his remaining some days at Glanyravon. But
this could not be, as he was engaged to be present at a meeting of the
Society for the Propagation of the Gospel the next day but one. To
Freda's indignation, her father engaged him in a game of chess, which
lasted the greater part of the ev