CHAPTER XXXVI.

THE FIRST-BORN.

Those Llanfawr bells which, as Freda said, certainly did ring for everything, were sending forth their chimes to celebrate the birth of a daughter at Plas Abertewey.  But whilst they were ringing, and Freda was abusing them, the mother of the little daughter was, apparently, about to depart for that other country where bells shall no longer ’ring out the old, and ring in the new,’ welcome the babe, or speed the spirit of the dead.

Good Dr Richards and the nurse stood, one on either side of Netta’s bed, pouring brandy and wine down her throat, whilst her infant was on its grandmother’s, Mrs Jenkins’s lap, in the next room.  The doctor was in a state of intense anxiety.  He had sent off one man and horse for another surgeon, and a second to Swansea, to telegraph for Howel, who had not yet returned from London, where he had been nearly three months.  He felt the great responsibility of his situation, and that if Netta did not rally, she must die.

It was six o’clock in the evening; the baby had been born in the morning, and Netta’s continual cry had been ’Howel!  Howel!  When will my husband come?’ But she had not spoken for some hours, and seemed to be sinking out of the world.

As Dr Richards leaned over her, he thought she murmured something.  Putting his ear close to her, he heard the words, ‘Mother! oh, mother!’

‘She shall come! you shall see her!’ said Dr Richards.  He went to a writing-table, and wrote as follows:—­

’Mrs Howel Jenkins is dying.  The only chance to save her is her mother’s presence.  Come, for God’s sake.’

He went out of the room, and ordered the carriage and horses to be prepared at once, and sent them and the coachman to Glanyravon Farm.  The man said it was as much as his place was worth to go; but Dr Richards insisted, and he went.

In about two hours the carriage returned.  Dr Richards heard the distant sound of wheels, so did Netta.  She opened her eyes, and with a painful, eager glance, again said, ‘Mother!’

Dr Richards left the room, and, to his great joy, welcomed Mrs Prothero in the hall.

‘Thank God, you are come!  She is yet alive,’ said he.

‘I did not stop to ask David,’ said Mrs Prothero, ’but came straight away.’

She followed Dr Richards to Netta’s room, and the feelings of the mother and the daughter may well be imagined, as they thus met after such a separation.  Mrs Prothero turned away and wept—­then prepared to wait upon her child.

As the long absence of Howel, and his non-arrival day after day, according to promises almost daily made, had caused Netta’s extreme prostration of mental as well as physical power; so the presence of her mother appeared to revive and cheer her.  Again she had some one near her who loved her.  Her mother, whom she had so grievously offended, had come to her in trouble, and she was roused and comforted.  The mother-in-law, who had been so anxious to take her from her parents, did not fill their places.