Gladys, the Reaper

end her away,' said Mrs Prothero to her only daughter Janetta, towards th

. You have neither been to church nor chapel, and scarcely eaten a mors

on't quite like to have her into the house without h

ather would get into a fury, and I'm sure I should be a

Lord to soften your heart, and teach you tha

ure, in that

bout Gladys, of which the above is a specimen, we will glanc

e-not much taller than her mother-but so well-formed, that her delicate little figure is quite the perfection of symmetry. Her movements are languid rather than brisk like her mother's, and she either has, or is desirous of having, more of th

wing-room. True, the furniture is of old-fashioned mahogany, the sofa of hair, the curtains of chintz, and all that appertains to the master and mistress of the house, of solid but ancient make. But the square piano, the endless succession of baskets, card-racks, etc., the footstools with the wors

and daughter at the end of it, and see what conclusions they have

y, and that she might give us all low Irish fever. I

have done it unto the least of these m

en, as father says, the sooner we

n to read. It was soon, however, evident that he was listening to the conversation, although he professedly kept his eyes on his book. Poor Mrs Prothero continued her efforts to enli

upted by the appearance of a fou

w comer, shaking Mrs Prothero's hand, and pulling Netta's curls. Her

ynne,' with a tone as

he young lady, who we now introduce in

o, eldest son of the good farmer and his wife, just returned from Oxford. Mr Rowland

'thank you,' and retreating towards the window where the mother and daughter were standing, 'what with th

ied Netta, suddenly brightening up and getting animated

, of cours

them to come into the house-to take th

e you don't do such t

twinkle in a merry

over another, 'there is a poor Irish girl in the barn almost dying, and it is

's name. You can't believe a word those Irish

mand and decision of one not accu

u only knew-' began the

ants, and I should not at all wonder if we should not be compelled

nd eyes. She had not much authority

knew Miss Gwynne w

ity would agree with you, Netta?' here brok

Gwynne with mortified dignity, Netta with anger. Mrs Proth

, colouring in his turn, as he met Miss Gwynne's

uppose, according to your law of Christian charity, we must fill our houses wi

this poor gir

but I know by heart

tingly not daring to contradict the heiress of Glanyravon

ll the "my leddy's," "yer honour's," and

y take the fever. I wouldn't g

contemptuously. 'You will be afraid of catching a toothache from infe

with pouting lips and knitted brow, but with no answering speech, good or bad. She was not silent because she had nothing to say, but because she was afraid of her brot

tment warmed into earnestness and animation as he talked to his sister. He looked and spoke as if his soul were in the

etta. She looked up briskly at the latter, as if sure of sympathy, a

ars, and retired to his sofa, taking

seem a moment to lose. I will send for a doc

,' replied Mrs Prothero, 'I

all I go and fetch one of the men?

Mr Rowland, rising from his sofa, and looking

er prepares the room. You could carry her quite well, for s

owland. They found Gladys with a farm-servant

rms, Miss Gwynne assisting. The poor girl unclosed her eyes,

od's hands,'said Rowland gently

m, and having placed her on the bed, left he

s wanted. She found a footman awaiting her, who told her that his master had sent him in search of

ain, and I am sure he must know I am here. Let me hear if I can be of any service, Mrs Prothero;

he Vicarage, come to-mo

d told me they meant to sleep here. Good evenin

ellence of Mrs Prothero, the silliness of Netta, the precision of Rowland, and the misery of the girl Gladys. Thence she turned her thoughts upon

o dreadfully weak and vacillating,' she said to herself; 'indeed I do not

oice, and general deportment would be disagreeable, but for the extreme grace of her figure, the unaffected ease of her manner, and the remarkable clearness and sweetness of her voice. She is handsome, too, with a noble forehead, sensible grey eyes, glossy chestnut hair, and a very fine complexion. The many of her nominal friends and admirers wh

comes in contact with; her father, his servants, his tena

y of her extreme haste, the heightened colour, and the glowing eye, are all very handsome, in spite of the coarseness in perspective. The poor footman can scarcely keep up wit

ssive square walls, and innumerable long windows, a good specimen of architectural beauty; still it is a most comfortable dwelling, beautifully situate

ge hall, and into a good library. Here a very tall,

I am so thankf

moment I go out. I really cannot be pestered with servants. It

, my love, the lat

o'clock now, papa, and

my love, to bear yo

ell authoritatively, a

house, to Glanyravon Farm immediately,' she said; then turning to her father, added, '

has no infectious dise

othero are going to Glanyravon to-morrow, and re

nguage, and heaven knows what old things that happened before the flood.

d thinks there is only one man who ever went to Ox

my dear-indeed

oarding school, and would do in a quiet way. Mrs Jonathan would be pleased, an

ite Lady Mary, and Mis

u see, my dear, the cloth is a passport to all grades of society;' but they would not approve of Netta. That i

d understands etiquette, and all that sort

people. But I will tell her that Sir Hugh and the Protheros are coming,

put yourself so much on a level wit

f pride and satisfaction to her, without making her presume more

His genealogies ar

with the young vicar's pedantic Oxonianism. He does thin

ry fatiguing, I

and carry off her forty-thousand pounds. She is silly enough for

man. And Miss Wilhelmina is very accomplished and all that sort of thi

learnt six tunes on the piano. Only the one is more fashionable than the other. Do you know, papa, Miss Nugent can play the Irish

k I will read a sermon to the s