Rowland had been very happy with his uncle and aunt, and loved them almost as well as his parents.
In the pretty garden were innumerable wonderful stones heaped into all sorts of masses, which he had helped his uncle to bring from various parts in the neighbourhood, and all of which were curiosities in their way; and there, also, was a fernery which he himself had made, and which contained all the remarkable ferns of a country rich in those beautiful productions of nature.

The vicarage and its garden were neatness itself.
Mrs Jonathan prided herself on them, and took great pains to prove that there could be, in a Welsh country village, a clergyman's abode something akin to the far-famed dwellings of the English ecclesiastic.
The party from the church quite filled the little drawing-room.

Mr Jonathan Prothero was in an easy-chair, with his foot on a cushion, and looking very much like a caged stork.
Every one began by congratulating him on the success of his nephew in the pulpit.
'He must become a popular preacher,' said Lady Mary Nugent.
'I must say I have seldom heard more simple yet forcible language,' said Mr Gwynne.
'He touched us all upon our besetting sin of pride,' said Colonel Vaughan, glancing at Miss Gwynne, who said nothing.
'And thuch a beautiful voice!' remarked Miss Nugent.
Mrs Jonathan looked delighted.
'But where is he all this time, my dear ?' asked the vicar.
We must answer the question by informing the reader that, having watched his congregation leave the church, he went into the vestry and sat down there, in order to avoid meeting any of the Gwynne party; when a messenger from his aunt came to inform him that he was wanted at once.
He inquired by whom, and on hearing, tried to arm himself for an unavoidable encounter with Miss Gwynne.
When he entered the room she was talking to his uncle, and had her back turned to the door.

He was at once greeted by Mr Gwynne and Lady Mary Nugent, so that he did not find it necessary to shake hands with every one, and made a kind of general bow, which he addressed to Miss Hall particularly, and was therefore unconscious of the half-attempt of Freda to rise from her seat as he entered.

Miss Hall, alone, saw the flush on her cheek, as she relapsed into her position by Mr Jonathan Prothero and professed to be listening to the cause of his accident.