ent; and I will put her under the particular
charge of the housekeeper, until she gets into the ways of the house.
Now I must go; what will Miss Hall say?'

Well might Freda ask, 'What will Miss Hall say?' She walked as quickly
as possible to the waterfall, she was not there; up the hill again, not
there; home through the wood, not there; into the house, not there. She
waited a little while with her hat on, but as no Mr Jones or Miss Hall
arrived, she took off her walking things, and went about her usual
avocations, saying to herself, with a smile on her lips the while,--

'I never thought I was a manoeuvrer before. It is evident they don't
want me, or they would have waited for me, and I have no doubt they are
much happier without me. I must go and look, after my father.'

Freda found Mr Gwynne in his library.

'Where is your guest, Freda? What is he like? Is he a bore?' were his
queries.

'He is walking with Miss Hall, and my impression is they are very good
company. He is very quiet, very grave, has no wonderful travellers'
stories, and none of the ologies, and can play chess, for I asked him. I
don't think him a bore, and I am sure Miss Hall doesn't.'

'Very well, then I will go into the drawing-room against he comes in.'

'Thanks; and I will whisper a little secret into your ear; he is an old
lover of Serena's, and I cannot help hoping he is come to propose for
her.'

Mr Gwynne was alive and interested in a moment. It is curious how on the
alert people are when they hear of a love affair.

'I will go and dress at once; he must be nice if Miss Hall likes him,
for she is certainly the least intrusive, and all that sort of thing. Is
he like Rowland Prothero?'

Freda coloured at this sudden question.

'No, not at all; besides, he is a middle-aged man.'

'To be sure; I suppose so. Miss Hall must be--I don't know--nearly forty
I suppose. I wish Rowland Prothero lived at the farm; he was so obliging
and pleasant; even Lady Mary Nugent admires him.'

'She is no great criterion of what is agreeable; I shouldn't think it
any compliment to be liked by her. There is the dressing bell. Now,
papa, do be ready for dinner, if you please.'

Freda went to her room in a sudden fit of ill-temper. The mention of
Lady Mary always put her out of humour. In a few moments there was a tap
at the door, and Miss Hall made her appearance.

'I might have waited a long time at the waterfall, Serena,' she began
maliciously.

F