‘Thank you,’ replied Netta sulkily.  ’I can’t eat anything, I am a great deal too tired and wretched.’

’Netta, I am sorry I hurt you; but you do aggravate me so, and I have a great deal on my mind.’

Netta’s face brightened a little.

’Why don’t you tell me what you have on your mind, instead of bullying me from morning to night?’

’Because a woman cannot understand such matters.  But if I do not get some money this month we shall be ruined.  I have asked my mother up to see whether she will advance it, and that will depend on our treatment of her.  Will you be kind to her?’

’I suppose you will give me some of the money, if you get it, to pay servants’ wages, and other bills?  I am dunned for money from morning to night, and never have a farthing to pay.’

’I shall be able to pay everything next month.  I am sure of plenty of money.’

’And I suppose you want to get money from your mother to pay bets, or something of the sort?  Why won’t you tell me?’

’Yes; I owe it to your friend Dancy.  Perhaps you will help me to pay him.’

’He is no friend of mine.  I don’t like him; but he would do more for me than you would, and is kinder too.  But I don’t want to be under any obligation to him.’

’If you wish to keep a house over your head, or me out of a prison, you must either ask him, as a personal favour, to let me off the debt, or you must help me to get the money out of my mother.’

’Howel, I don’t like underhand ways.  I don’t mind trying to be civil to Aunt ’Lizbeth, provided you tell her exactly how you are situated, and promise me never to bet with Captain Dancy, or borrow money of him again.’

‘I promise most faithfully.’

’And if you can’t afford to live in this grand house, Howel, why don’t you give it up, and take to the law, or anything to get your living?  Perhaps, if you did, we should be happy again.  I would rather work like a slave, and not keep a servant, and live in a small lodging, or anything, than see you so altered.’

Here Netta began to cry.

’If I get this money from mother, and what I expect from other sources, we shall be all right again, and then—­’

’And then, Howel, you will give up horse-racing and betting and gambling and bad company, and think more of Minette and me—­your poor unhappy Netta—­your wife—­your little cousin that you used to say you loved!—­oh, Howel!  Howel! that you hate so now, and treat so unkindly.’

Netta had been standing by the fire-place hitherto, but at this juncture she went towards Howel timidly, and kneeling down by his side as he sat at the table, put her hands on his arm, and fixed her tearful eyes on his face.

Howel was touched.  We know that there are moments in the lives of the worst of men when better feelings overcome the evil ones; and Howel was not utterly bad; and now his guardian angel seemed to be making a great effort to reclaim him from his sins.  He really loved Netta as much as he could love anything.  Was she not the only creature in the world who had really loved him?