hich there was a private path to the house.

Mr Gwynne and he passed her again as they rode on, and she curtseyed
once more, Mr Gwynne nodding to her kindly as she looked at him.

'Who _is_ that girl, Mr Gwynne?'

'Oh! my daughter's maid, I believe. A very pretty, modest young woman,
and all that sort of thing. Freda is very fond of her.'

They struck into another path, and Colonel Vaughan saw no more of Gladys
that day, though he peeped into various stray corners of the house in
the hope of doing so. Moreover, he found Freda captious and cross, and
particularly annoyed at his and her father's visit to Pentre. He
punished her by playing chess with her father nearly all the evening,
and leaving her to a variety of reflections that were anything but
satisfactory to her.

CHAPTER XXXIII.

THE TEMPTER.

'I particularly wish you to go, Gladys, and there will be plenty of
time. He was worse when I saw him yesterday, and I promised to send you
to-day to read to him, and take him some wine. I shall not want you till
five, and my dress is quite ready. They dine at half-past six, and the
evening party are invited for nine, I believe.'

This was said by Miss Gwynne to Gladys, at about half-past two o'clock,
on the day of Miss Nugent's festivities.

'Very well, ma'am,' said Gladys, 'I will make as much haste as
possible.'

'Do you know where Colonel Vaughan is, Gladys?' asked Miss Gwynne.

'I heard some one say, ma'am, that he and Mr Gwynne had walked to
Pentre, to see the dinner on the lawn.'

'Oh! By the way, would you have liked to have gone to see these said
diversions? If so, I can send some one else with the wine.'

'Oh no, thank you, ma'am. I would much rather walk to see poor Lloyd.'

'Then you had better make haste.'

Gladys was soon on her way, through the wood, to the farm mentioned in
the last chapter. She thoroughly enjoyed her walk on that lovely July
day, and thought she had never heard the birds sing so sweetly before.

In truth, Gladys had not been so happy since her sorrows as she was now.
She felt independent, and placed in a position where she knew her exact
duties. She devoted herself and her time wholly to Miss Gwynne, and was
repaid, not only by regular wages, but by kindness, and even affection
from her mistress.

There was increased colour on her cheek, brightness in her eyes, mirth
in her smile, elasticity in her step, and life in her whole being as she
entered the cottage