'How much more agreeable Miss Gwynne is,' said a fourth. 'I suppose it is because she has been living in a clergyman's family, where they are obliged to be pleasant to all the parishioners.' 'How much less fastidious, satirical, and overbearing Freda Gwynne is,' a fourth; 'her very countenance is altered; I am sure there has been some great change in her mind.' And thus the neighbours rang the changes upon Freda's change; but Mrs Gwynne Vaughan had been, perhaps, the nearest to the real cause. She was no longer satirical, no longer striving to find out vulnerable points in people's characters to laugh at; she had learnt to make allowances for others, who in turn made allowances for her. Satirical people are very amusing, but rarely welcome, companions; not that Freda was exactly satirical, but she had the gift of finding out every one's weak points--a good gift to those who will kindly cover the point, but a bad one to such as like to lay it bare. The party at Abertewey went off very well; the colonel was in good humour, and devoted to Freda, who tried to treat him as her brother-in-law; and Sir Hugh was more gallant than ever, and long before the evening was over, had managed to tell Freda that he would rather have her without the Park than with it, which Freda pretended to take as a joke on the part of her old admirer. The following day, Mr and Mrs Jones spent at the Park, according to a special invitation from its master and mistress. Lady Mary's attention to Freda's friends did more towards reconciling her to her step-mother than anything else; and she even forgot to ask whether it was tact or not. Mr Jones was obliged to return to London the next day, but at Freda's earnest entreaty, he left his wife behind him for a week, which was spent by her between the Park and farm very agreeably. Before she left, Mr Gwynne had a little private conference with her, to the following effect, and very nervous he was meanwhile:-- 'I am very much obliged to you and Mr Jones, I am sure, for your kindness to Freda. I hope you understand how satisfied, and--and--all that sort of thing, you know, I am whilst she is with you.' Mrs Jones saw that she must say something to help him on. 'We are only too glad to have her society and aid. I assure you she has been invaluable in the parish, and is beloved by every one.' 'Exactly; I perceive a wonderful change in her; she is gentler, and less excitable. I feel that you--that your husband--in short, I mean--that--hem--' 'Freda has such a fine natural character, Mr Gwynne.' 'Precisely; I would say that I am convinced you would not influence her, and so forth, in remaining away from--you understand--from me, in short.' 'Certainly not. I should be very glad to think that she would return and live happily at her natural home, sorry as I should be to lose her.'