Albert don’t be dressing half as fine as the gentlemen and ladies I was seeing act.  The Queen!  Oh, Mrs Rice Rice, fach!  Ma’am, I was disappointed!  Just a bonnet no better than my doater-in-law’s.  What, sir! a crown?  Not ’sactly a crown; but I was ’specting to see a queen different from other people.  Hush!  I do hear my son Howels cry, “Silence!” and they do be playing “Ap Shenkin.”  Not so bad that for Wales, Mrs Rice Rice.  My son Howels do sing beautiful himself, and do play—­Hush! look you at him.  He don’t like tolking in the music.  He, he, he, sir! you do make me laugh.  To be seure I don’t mean to be marrying again, though men are so much for money.  I am thinking you gentlemen ’ould be marrying your grandmothers for the beauty money!  Not my son Howels, indeet!  He don’t be wanting money.  He marry his cousin for love.  Hush you!  There’s Pengoch beginning a Penyll!  You don’t be hearing anything like that in England.  Ach a fi! my ’deet, I am sorry.  “God save the Queen!” and it don’t seem an hour since they began!’

Mrs Jenkins stood up with the rest, and beat time emphatically Scarcely was the last verse of ‘God save the Queen’ finished, when Howel came up to his mother, and biting his tongue to keep in his ire, said—­

‘Mother, I will see you safe first!’ and without allowing her time to do more than make a curtsey to her companions, offered her his arm, and led her quickly down the room.  He did not venture to speak to her, but nodding to one and another as he passed, said, ’I shall be back directly.  I am just going to send my mother home first,’ reached the door, and called for his carriage.  It was close at hand, the hour for ordering the carriages being past; and he speedily put his mother into it.  ‘Drive Mrs Jenkins home, and return immediately,’ he exclaimed.

‘Which way, ma’am?’ asked the servant.

’Go you down the street, then turn to the right, and the first house with a railing and steps, and a brass knocker,’ said Mrs Jenkins, exulting as they drove off in her new dignity and importance.  Howel, on the contrary, returned to the concert-room, cursing his folly for having settled in his native county, and wishing his mother anywhere else.

Nevertheless, he received the thanks of the conductor of the concert with bland humility, and expressed his intention of using all his best efforts in behalf of his country and countrymen.  Finally he assisted in cloaking and shawling the ladies, seeing them to their carriages, and bidding them condescending good nights.

For himself, however, he had not a good night, being haunted with the demons of jealousy and discontent.  As soon as Netta and he were alone, he addressed her in very different tones from those which he had called forth for the ladies of the concert-room.

‘Netta, why do you let Dancy pay you such attentions?’ he began, with a scowling brow and flashing eye.

‘Why does Mme. Duvet let you pay her such attention?’ was Netta’s instant reply.