‘Really?’ sneered Howel.  ’My mother tells me that she ran away from Glanyravon, and report says with somebody we know of.  But report was false as usual; and she turns up again as Miss Gwynne’s lady’s maid.  Miss Gwynne is about as eccentric as the rest of the clique, and I wish her joy of her bargain.  The girl is a beauty, certainly, but—­’

‘Hush, Howel!’ cried Netta; ’Owen was nearly boxing my ears about her just now.’

‘Not exactly, Netta,’ said Owen, smothering rising anger, and looking very red; ’but I won’t hear a word said against her either by man or woman.  I am going to read my letter now, and you are going to get up, so I won’t stop here any longer,’ and Owen left the room.

He went at once to his own bedroom, where he hastily broke open the letter Howel had given him, and read as follows:—­

     ’GLANYRAVON PARK, May——.

’SIR,—­I hope you will excuse my boldness in writing to you; but having heard that you are at Abertewey, I take the liberty of doing so, to tell you that your leaving home has made us all very unhappy.  Oh!  Mr Owen, if you would only go back and see your dear mother and honoured father, and learn how lonely they are without you, I think you would give up the sea, or at least remain with them for some time.  If you would write to the master, or say a few gentle words to him, he would overlook your going to see your sister, I am almost sure; and, indeed, it breaks my heart to know that I was the cause of your going away so suddenly, after you had been so long at home, and so good to your parents.

’Then, dear Mr Owen, you, who have been always so kind to me, a poor orphan wanderer, and beggar at your father’s gate, do, I pray you, add this one favour more to the many you have done me, and return to your parents, to take leave of them at least before you go away.  Hoping you will forgive my writing to you on this subject, believe me to remain, Mr Owen, your obedient and grateful servant, GLADYS O’GRADY.’

When Owen had read this letter twice, he devoutly kissed it, and exclaimed,—­

’This favour, Gladys! ay, and a thousand more, if you will only write to me, and let one little “dear” slip in unawares every time you ask one.  I suppose I had better write to father to-day, and follow my letter to-morrow.’

Owen sat down at once, and wrote the following brief epistle:—­

’MY DEAR FATHER,—­If I have offended you in any way, I am very sorry.  I didn’t mean to do so, and shall return to-morrow to ask pardon in person; but, remember, I am just as much in love with Gladys as ever, and don’t mean to curry favour about her.  With best love to mother, I am, your affectionate son, OWEN.’

That day at luncheon Owen announced his intention of leaving Abertewey the following morning.

‘To see the fair lady who wrote that neat note?’ said Howel.