‘Do you mean what you say?’ said Owen, jumping up from his chair, and cutting a caper, ’then shake hands, and tell me you forgive me for being so hasty.’

They shook hands heartily, and Rowland said,—­

’Thank you, Owen, you have done me good; now go away, and I will write my sermon.’

’Not before I know what is the matter with you, and why Gladys went across on purpose to walk home with you.’

After much hesitation, and some pressing on the part of Owen, Rowland told his brother what had passed between him and Miss Gwynne.  When he had made a clean breast of it, he felt as if relieved of half his load—­especially when Owen assured him that women were all alike, and that when you asked them the first time, they were as proud as Lucifer.

’It is first and last with me, Owen.  I have forgotten my position, my profession, my own dignity in giving way to a passion that I had no right to suppose could be returned.  I will crush it, and nobody but you shall ever know of its existence.  This struggle over, and I shall hope henceforth to have but one Master and to serve Him.’

’Well, I never should have thought you would have fancied Miss Gwynne; not but that she is handsome and clever and very agreeable and kind, too, when she pleases; but so proud, so domineering, and then—­’

’Neither should I have supposed Gladys to be your choice, Owen; and I am sorry it should be so.  What would my father say? so soon upon Netta, too; and you must confess that her uncertain history, her present condition, the way she came to us, would be utter barriers to anything serious.’

’Bravo, Rowland; now I must put the application to your lecture.  I suppose everything is by comparison in this world—­the squire and the squire’s daughter look down upon the farmer and the farmer’s son, and beg to decline the honour of an alliance.  The farmer and the farmer’s son look down upon the corporal and corporal’s daughter, and beg to do the same, especially as she is their servant.  Tom, the carpenter, thinks his daughter too good for Joseph the labourer, and Matthew the shoeblack wouldn’t let his son marry Sal the crossing-sweeper for all the world.  Oh, Rowland!, is this what you have learnt from your profession, and the book before you?  Why, I’ve found a better philosophy on board ship, with no teachers but the moon and stars.’

’Owen, I am ashamed of myself.  My pride deserves to be thus pulled down.’

’I don’t want to seem unkind, Rowland, but my notion is, that an honest gentleman, such as you, educated, and a clergyman is good enough for any lady; and that a good, religious girl, who has saved my mother’s life, is a great deal too good for a ne’er-do-well fellow like me.  But I won’t fall before I’m pushed, since I’m pretty sure she thinks so too.  So, now, cheer up, old boy! and show the heiress what a sermon you can preach; and let her see you don’t care a fig for her; and then, by jingo, she’ll be over head and ears in love with you, and propose herself next leap-year.’