He pointed her out to his mother,
who at once went to her.

'Oh! I am thinking of your Rowlands and my Howels, so different!' said
the wretched mother; 'he to be beginning life so rich, and your son with
nothing; and now! oh, anwyl! oh, anwyl!'

'Come with me, cousin 'Lizbeth,' said Mrs Prothero kindly; 'come
upstairs, and I will make you some tea, and then Owen shall send you
home.'

Mrs Prothero and Mrs Jenkins left the room, followed by Gladys, who was
soon making the required beverage.

Whilst congratulations were still going on in the parlour, Miss Gwynne's
voice was heard in the passage.

'Not a word to Miss Gwynne, or indeed to any one, of my having the
living, to-day at least,' said Rowland, leaving the room hastily, and
repeating his request to Gladys in the hall.

'I can only stay a few minutes,' said Miss Gwynne, when she had shaken
hands with the party in the parlour, 'I wished to ask how Mrs Prothero
is, and to see you, Mrs Jonathan. I have been delayed at the school, and
it is nearly dusk already.'

'Oh, don't go yet, Miss Gwynne,' said Minette, creeping up to her, and
getting on her lap, 'it is so nice with you. Poor mamma is gone to
heaven, Miss Gwynne.'

'Yes, love,' whispered Miss Gwynne, kissing Minette, 'but we will not
talk of it before your grandfather, you see it grieves him.'

'But you won't go; it is moonlight now--a pretty moon--I see it. It will
light you home.'

The 'pretty moon' rather frightened Miss Gwynne, who said that if she
did not go, she would have the servants in search of her.

'Will you allow me to walk with you, Miss Gwynne?' said Rowland; 'it is
too late for you to return alone.'

'Thank you, I shall be really obliged, if I am not taking you from your
friends. I am a much greater coward than I used to be. London lamps
spoil one for country roads. Tell your grandmother that I will come
again to-morrow and see her, Minette.'

Miss Gwynne and Rowland left the house together. Mr Prothero saw them to
the door, and watched them up the road.

'Strange times!' he said to his brother, when he returned to the
parlour. 'Rowland walking with Miss Gwynne quite familiar. I hope he
isn't too forward; to be seure he don't offer his arm, or go near her;
but it seems out of place their going together in that way at all.
Gwynne, Glanyravon is a proud man, perhaps he 'ouldnt like it; but
Rowland is so grand and so good now, that I daren't say a word.'

'Oh!' said Mrs Jonathan, d