‘Dear Howel,’ murmured Netta, as the nurse covered up the mother and her babe, and the doctor touched Howel, and told him to come away.  He caught sight of the trembling Mrs Prothero as he was leaving the room, and a terrible frown passed over his face.  She followed him downstairs, and anticipated his abuse of her, by saying at once, gently, but firmly,—­

‘Howel, I came here at Dr Richards’ summons to my dying child.  My husband did not even know I was coming, but neither he nor you could have prevented me at such a time.  You cannot turn me from your doors whilst she is still in danger.  When she is out of danger I will go.’

‘You turned my mother from yours.’

’Not I, Howel; and I have never injured you.  Leave me till to-morrow, and I will go.’

One of the few people in the world for whom Howel had a small amount of respect and affection, was Mrs Prothero.  The simply good, and unaffectedly pious, will sometimes command the regard of the worldly and irreligious.

’If you remain in my house, Mrs Prothero, it is because you have been consistently kind to me, and received my mother.  As to your husband, I would—­’

’Not to me, Howel, if you please I can hear nothing against him.  You must remember the provocation, and try to forgive and forget as I do.  But thank you for letting me stay with Netta.  I have so longed and prayed to see her again, and it has been brought about for me.’

Mrs Prothero remained one clear day and two nights longer at Abertewey.  As Netta was quite out of danger before that time had expired, she thought it right to go home, both on Howel’s account and her own husband’s, whose anger she would have to allay.  During her stay with Netta she lost no opportunity to work gently on the mind of her child, now opened and softened by her late trials.  She found, with grief, what she had always feared, that Howel and Netta were not happy together; that he was frequently morose and unkind, and that she was passionate and revengeful.  This eked out in Netta’s confessions to her mother, for Howel was attentive and affectionate during her illness.  Mrs Prothero entreated her to be gentle and obedient.  Earnestly did she speak to her of religion, trying to recall the lessons of her childhood; and with tears poor Netta promised everything.  Particularly she promised to read her Bible.  Her mother was shocked that the Book was not to be found in her bedroom.  She put a little Testament, that she always carried in her pocket, under her child’s pillow.  It was lined, and underlined by her own hand, and she fondly hoped she might read it for her sake.

Netta was so loving, gentle, and teachable with her mother—­blamed herself so severely for having displeased her and her father—­sent so many messages to him, and seemed so desirous of obtaining his forgiveness, that Mrs Prothero hoped everything.

It was a hard struggle to part again with that dear child, and to kiss the little grandchild for the last time, perhaps, for years—­she would not believe for ever; but both she and Netta were obliged to put a brave face upon it, in order not to displease Howel, already suspicious of their conversations.