hing. Mr Jones, ditto; I am
wholly creditor in London: the poor, the ragged schools, I owe them
every farthing I can give, for they want it, and have few to help them.
I feel almost sure I should be best in London. Rowland Prothero, I owe
him compensation for my great, unpardonable rudeness and pride; I am
more ashamed of that one action than of any other. He so superior to me
in every way, but the mere accident of birth.'

Thus far Freda got in her arithmetic. But Rowland seemed to open a new
rule, farther on in Butler than addition and substraction. In short,
she found herself lost in the maze of fractions, and could not extricate
herself. When she jumped up from her easy-chair, she was trying to
reduce the following complex fractions, into one simple one, and
entirely failed.

'A curate, the son of my father's tenant, the brother-in-law of my
former maid, brother-in-law also of a man indicted for forgery. But,
proud as myself; below me here, but above me in London; infinitely my
superior in everything worth the consideration of a person travelling
quickly through a world of silly distinctions, to one where we shall all
begin life on very different principles. The fact is, Freda, that the
tables are turned, and you now esteem this same Rowland Prothero much
higher than he esteems you. Constant intercourse has brought out all his
grand points, and all your weak ones. His mind has conquered your vulgar
prejudices, but has also fully seen through them, and despises you
accordingly. Well, I suppose duty and propriety concur in my remaining
at Glanyravon Park, discretion being the better part of valour.'

And so ended Freda's arithmetic.

CHAPTER XLVIII.

THE PENITENT.

A week after the marriage of Owen and Gladys, the following conversation
took place between Gladys and Netta. The latter had been much more
wandering in mind since the wedding, and had been occupying herself by
writing a variety of letters, all of which were addressed to Howel, with
the exception of one, which was to her brother Rowland.

'You see, dear sister,' said Netta, 'that Howel cannot come to me,
because he is in debt, so I must go to him. He is in America, I know.
His letter was from America.'

'But America is an immense continent, dear Netta,' said Gladys; 'you
would not know where to seek him.'

'Oh, yes! I should find him very soon. My love would point the way. I
should track his steps like a dog, Gladys--like a dog.'

'