They were rather a formal quartette, and at first conversation did not flow easily. Mr Gwynne's nerves, Rowland's embarrassment Miss Hall's natural depression of spirits, and Freda's resolution not to make herself agreeable to a person she was determined to consider conceited, were bad ingredients for a dish of good sociable converse. By degrees, however, they thawed a little. Mr Gwynne wished to say something that would set his young chess opponent at his ease, and said the very thing likely the most to confuse a shy man. He made a personal remark and paid a compliment. 'I am sure your uncle and--and your father, of course, must have been much gratified, and so forth, at your gaining that fellowship at Oxford.' 'I think you labour under a mistake,' said Rowland, looking more than usually confused when he saw Miss Gwynne's eyes turned upon him; 'I merely gained a scholarship at Rugby, which is really nothing. I did not even try for a fellowship.' 'Conceited!' thought Freda. 'I suppose he thinks if he had tried he would have got one.' 'Were you not at Baliol?' asked Mr Gwynne. 'Yes; I went there because my aunt had a fancy for the college, her father having been, there, otherwise I should have gone to Jesus College and tried for a Welsh fellowship, which is more easily obtained, because there are few competitors.' 'Did you know anything of Mr Neville, Sir Thomas Neville's son?' asked Miss Hall. 'Yes; I was introduced to him through some friends of my aunt's, and we became very intimate. He was very kind to me.' 'Is he clever?' 'Very. I think he has very fine talents, and is likely to shine at the bar if he continues in his resolution to go to it. I have just had an invitation to spend a few days with him, but do not think I shall have time before I go to be ordained.' 'Has your aunt settled the curacy?' asked Freda, with a wicked laugh in the corner of her eye. 'I think and hope so,' replied Rowland, answering the visible smile by a blush; 'she has done her utmost to obtain it for me.' 'Ah! she was well connected, and has some interest, and a--a great deal of energy, and all that sort of thing; I should think she was a clever, or I mean a--an enterprising woman.' Mr Gwynne hesitated as he said this, not admiring the lady in question, yet thinking it incumbent upon him to pay her a compliment. His daughter glanced inquiringly at Rowland, as if wondering what he could say to so dubious a speech. He appeared equally at a loss, and, as he turned from Mr Gwynne for a moment, caught Miss Gwynne's mirthful eye. He could not help smiling, but said with much spirit,-- 'My aunt has been very good to me, Mr Gwynne, and I owe her a heavy debt of gratitude for giving me at least the opportunity of getting on in the world.' 'Well, I like him for that,' thought Freda; 'and are you going to London?' she asked aloud, with a degree of interest. 'I am to be ordained by the Bishop of London to a city curacy,' was the reply.