Bible in Welsh and English, in token of their gratitude and love for her.  Mr Jones had been too much engaged in London to allow of his visiting Wales until two or three days before his marriage, during which time he had occasionally met, and spoken kindly to Gladys, and given her a book on Missionary subjects, which he had brought purposely for her, expecting to find her at the farm.  He had also carried pleasant news of Rowland to Mrs Prothero, and frequently spoken of him to Mr Gwynne and Freda—­of his earnestness in his profession, and of the love and esteem in which he was held by his rector and his flock.

Freda felt very lonely when her dear Serena was gone.  She had no one amongst her immediate neighbours for whom she cared much.  The general round of country dinner-parties she had always found very dull, and the annual hunt week and assize balls she had never liked; so she found herself again thrown quite upon her own resources.  As long as Colonel Vaughan had been in the country, she had taken an interest in everything; when he left, her ordinary pursuits—­her riding, painting, music, garden—­in all of which he had aided her, suddenly lost their charm.  Her friend’s marriage came about just when she wanted an object of interest, and when that was over she was thrown back upon herself.

By degrees, however, a healthier tone returned to her mind, and she forgot the fascinating Colonel Vaughan, and recovered her interest in her house, school, dogs, birds, garden, and the thousand and one small objects that serve to make time pass cheerfully and happily in a country home.  Above all, she became more and more interested in Gladys, and anxious to shelter her from the many dangers and temptations which she saw her peculiar beauty and position subjected her to.  She soon found out that all the men-servants paid their devotions to her shrine, and that even the ancient and portly butler was not indifferent to her charms; but the simplicity and modesty of Gladys kept them all at a respectful distance, and the housekeeper told Miss Gwynne, that ’Reelly, she was quite a pattern in the servants’ ’all, and it was a treat to see a young ’oman who knew how to keep the men off—­not but the girls were as jealous of her as could be; but that wasn’t to be wondered at, for none of ’em was made anything of when Gladys was near.’  Even Mr Gwynne roused himself to make inquiries concerning Freda’s pretty maid, which was quite the crowning feather in Gladys’ cap.

CHAPTER XXIX.

THE COUNTRY GENTLEMAN.

Plas Abertewey was a fine old country seat, that had been in Colonel Vaughan’s family for generations.  Miss Gwynne was not the only scion of the good old county gentry who was disgusted at seeing it in the possession of a son of old Griffey Jenkins, the miser.  But so it was to be.  Howel took the place, nominally for a term, but with the avowed intention of purchasing it, or the first place of any note that should be for sale in the county.