't discourage me at first starting, or I shall never get on. You
know I'm very shy, and want some one to lend me a helping hand. If
you're not too hard upon me you may make something useful of me yet.'

Owen put his hand on his father's shoulder, as he wound up his speech,
in a coaxing, boyish way, that had always proved irresistible. The
honest farmer pished and pshawed, and tried to get into a fresh
passion, but meeting Owen's saucy eyes, fairly broke down.

'I tell you what it is, Owen, you're a regular scamp, and always were;
but you know better than any of 'em to come over me, so--now, don't be a
fool, mother! Just because the good-for-nothing young scoundrel promises
to stay at home you must begin to cry. Name o' goodness hold your
tongue, and don't be coaxing and kissing me, and all that nonsense. He
'out keep his promise a month, you shall see.'

'So she shall, father, and you and I will shake hands upon it, and I'll
be a good boy, and never be naughty any more.'

Father and son shook hands, and mother and son embraced, and future
chapters will show whether Owen kept his word.

CHAPTER XXXII.

THE MAN OF THE WORLD.

Two or three months passed, and no particular event happened either at
the park or farm, and summer came round again. Gladys was now
established at the former, and Owen at the latter, but although they had
seen one another frequently at church or at a distance, they had
scarcely spoken since they parted on the evening of their remarkable
meeting in the cow-house. Gladys scrupulously avoided Owen, and all his
endeavours to fall in with her were fruitless.

Colonel Vaughan was again at Glanyravon, and Freda was in buoyant
spirits. So, indeed, were her neighbours, the Nugents,--Miss Nugent in
particular. She was to be of age in a few days, and grand preparations
were making to celebrate the event.

On the morning on which we take up our Glanyravon narrative Miss Nugent
is inflicting herself upon Miss Gwynne, who longs to tell her to go
away, but is too polite to do so.

'You know, Freda,' she says, 'I have been longing to be of age for
yearth. Mamma ath been tho thrict, and kept me tho clothe, that I never
dared to thpeak to a gentleman. Now I can do ath I like.'

'And what will you have to say?' asked Freda, bluntly. 'I never hear you
venture upon many topics, when you have an opportunity.'

'Oh, Freda! there are tho many thingth.'

'Just tell me one or two.'

'Let me thee.