ired bed, and
fine, white, home-spun linen at the farm. The squire may give you a
better dinner, may be, but not a hotter, I'll answer for it; Gladys'll
see to that; she's capital for that. And mother 'ould be so glad to hear
what the rector said about our Rowly.'

'You may depend upon my coming,' said the stranger. 'What time does Mr
Gwynne dine? I suppose I shall escape his dinner hour? It is now about
five o'clock.'

'Oh! they don't dine till Christian folks are going to bed--seven or
eight o'clock, or some such heathen hour. You'll be able to see them all
before dinner; but I don't believe Mr Gwynne'll let you come away.'

'I shall not see him probably. Good day for the present.'

The stranger rode slowly up the drive from the lodge to the house, and
Mr Prothero quickened his pace homeward. The mare, nothing loath,
trotted off hard and fast, and Gladys looked paler than ever.

When they reached the farm gate they were greeted by a loud shout from
the 'boys,' Tom and Bill, who were right glad to see pretty Gladys back
again. They both ran as fast as they could to the house, to tell their
mistress the good news, and Lion after them. Mrs Prothero was at the
door to receive the travellers, and as Gladys slipped off the mare, took
her round the neck, and gave her a hearty kiss.

'My dear David, I am so thankful! so much obliged!' she said, as her
more portly husband dismounted. 'Come in quick; Miss Gwynne and Miss
Hall are here. They were just going, but they will be relieved of all
their anxiety when they see Gladys. Come in, Gladys, fach! don't be
afraid; they must see you.'

Poor Gladys was crying with all her heart--good, comfortable, refreshing
tears of joy at her mistress's kind welcome.

Miss Gwynne appeared at the parlour door.

'Well, Gladys! you have had your long walk for nothing. What a foolish
girl you were to go away. Mr Prothero, how do you do? I am so glad you
have brought us back Gladys. We couldn't do without her in these parts.'

'Do you still stand to your text, Miss Gwynne?' said Mr Prothero. 'We
may as well settle the matter at once. It will be a great thing for the
girl.'

'Oh, certainly; only she looks too tired to settle anything. Gladys, I
will give you a day or two to consider whether you will come and live
with me, as my maid, or be Miss Hall's pattern school-mistress.'

Gladys looked from Miss Gwynne to Miss Hall, and then from her master to
her mistress, through the tears that