Gladys, the Reaper

door of Glanyravon Farm, and, dismounting, entered the house. She

etta?' were her first wor

believe,' said Net

is your

e morning, and all night too. I don't know

her whether I can see

tain

dine with us on Wednesday,

tta, brightening up

ll behave rightly,' muttered Miss Gwynne

ero soon

ynne, running up to her and taking both her hands

at is almost all,' was the

thing? Did Dr

was very kind. He has b

Netta to dinner on Wednesday, w

l tell Rowland; but I really t

told her of t

your pardon, Miss Gwynne, but it will pu

l be ver

land. He drew back on seeing Miss Gwynne, and bowed, as usual,

you would come and dine with us

rspread his face, 'I shall be very happy, if I am not obliged to be elsewhe

he was so ill! Oh, Ro

le to take it from it after he was dead. And the said coffers hidden, nobody knows where. But poor Mrs Jen

at can I do with her? And y

unt till your return. As to the poor

you come back!' exclaimed Miss Gwynne eagerly. 'I assure you I can m

ight-I think the girl has low

and papa would let me do just as I like. In short, I mean to sta

few hours before h

h as Croesus, and, according to custom in

not got it,' sa

sh, mother. Let us hope tha

born or bred in a way to

s impossib

Jenkins, and leave the poor girl to me, and Mr and Mrs Jonathan to Mr Rowland

his sudden appeal to him, and by meeting that young lady's eyes as they turned towards him. A slight blush from the lady and a very deep one from the g

e horses home, and to let my father know that he

his composure, 'but I do not think my mother would be j

sk her. I choose to do it, thank you, a

red, as, with haughty port, she swept pas

erself by coming here as she does. Still, her desire to take care of the girl is a fine, natural trait of character. I must just go and look over the Guardian. A curacy in England I am resolved to get, away from all temptation. Yet I hate answering a

by the reappearance of Mrs P

ht not to let Mi

o you think she would

wynne

servant, and now le

grandeur and dignity was the bow made with which she honoured

l. Every comfort had been provided for her by Mrs Prothero, and Miss

irl?' she said, leaning over her bed. 'Anythin

ady,' was the slow, alm

self, 'can I not say aloud what I feel at my heart for this unhapp

ead of the stairs

her he will come and read a pra

wland. He went to the bed, and began to whisper gently of the hope of salvation

ed. 'Lord, I believe, h

, and she responded inwardly, her lips moving. Miss Gwynne

looking to Christ, the Saviour, alone in the hour of her e

rust whol

d I trust? All huma

have friends

k you, sir? G

d read to you when yo

hout speaking again to Miss Gwynne,

ly believe he was not English born and bred; but still he is quite a Goth in

tta at the foo

that you can allow Miss Gwynne to w

idn't choose. I don't want to catch the fever, and I n

mother's daughter, or you could no

n other people, but you're a

knocking at the house door, and Farmer Pr

here are you? Here

little four-wheeled carriage, and were waiting, with her father, for admission. Rowland, also, in his turn, duly em

, Netta?' excla

answered

ins, father; perhaps you have no

h I'm sorry for the old fellow. But what'll we do without mother

at his mother begged him to apologise f

said the aunt, whose countenance

n only child, was his heiress. Mr Jonathan Prothero had been, in years gone by, his curate, and had succeeded in gaining the affections, as well as fortune, of the daughter, and in bringing both into h

he was proud of her feet and hands, which were always well shod, stockinged, gloved, and ringed, and as these were the only pretty points about her, we cannot wonder at her taking care of them. People used to say she would have been an old maid, had not a certain auspicious day taken the R

for you. I wrote to my cousin, Sir Philip Payne Perry, whose wife's b

nd's hands, and watched his

shall be quite happy. A curacy in London, father! Just read this. Sir Philip thinks I might not like it in the hear

rself in life, and to rise in the worl

onathan Prothero, who was seated in the window, with a lar

! what di

ondon curacy that my aunt has

able to go to the Museum, and look up the old genealogy we were talking about. Do y

g of Rowland's curacy,' interrupted Mrs Jonath

e, you know best,' said Mr Jona

ther he had a curacy in his own country, and so 'ou

ff your things?' asked Netta, interposing

uld be very glad,' and the

you, that we were obliged, out of sheer charity, to take that poor Irish gir

ring one all day long, without your bringing an Irish beggar into the house. I never saw such an 'ooman as your mother in my life; she's never quiet a minute. I 'ont stand it any longer; now 'tis a subscription for this, now a donat

father,

n I

s passion, crying out in the

quickly answe

hat Irish

wen's ro

rinning and saying, 'He, he, he'll do be t

r, Miss Gwynne-' but the father was in the bedroom before he heard the

career by seeing Miss Gwynne advance t

spered, 'she is asleep. Look

Gladys lay. She looked so much like a corpse, that he started back affrighted. Then Miss Gwynne l

d by-and-by I will get her sent back to her parish,

upon his rising choler as the shortness of the notice would allow. He could not, however,

pensioners and paupers, and I'm determined to have no more of 'em. You may

his head out of a

umbrance that should be wholly my mother's. She has nothin

, drawing herself up to her fullest height, 'I w

eg your pardon, miss, but I believe he's so set up by having a chance of going to London, that he don't know wh

t this authoritative mandate; but she was very much surprised to see him bow politely to her and

onathan, that they quite forgot Mrs Prothero's absence, until the sudden return of