‘Well, father! all’s right now, at any rate.’

’Treue for you there, Owen, my boy.  The only objection is removed; everybody will know now that Gladys was honest, God bless you both, and make you happy.’

At this moment there was a suppressed sob from Netta.  Her mind had wandered from the open, straightforward betrothal of Owen and Gladys, crowned, after years of difficulty, with a father’s and mother’s blessing, to her own unhallowed marriage—­to her lost husband.

Again poor Netta was the object of every one’s thoughts, Gladys forgot herself, and Owen his joy, to cheer and comfort her.

It was in private that Mrs Prothero poured out her feelings to Gladys, and assured her of her unbounded satisfaction in the prospect of such a daughter.  It was also in private that Netta solemnly gave her child into Gladys’ care.  She said,—­

’If I die, Gladys, you are to be her mother.  You are to bring her up; she is never to leave you.  If Howel comes back, say to him this was my wish.  But I will write it for him.  You must teach her to love her father, and to pray for him; and when she is old enough to be firm in her duty, to go to him if he wishes it.  But never let Aunt ’Lizbeth have her—­never.  I must see Aunt ’Lizbeth, I must tell her my wishes myself; you must talk to her, Gladys; she must not have my child if I die.’

Owen and Minette went together to see poor Mrs Griffey.  They found her much altered.  Owen could scarcely recognise the brisk, handsomely-dressed Aunt ’Lizbeth who came to announce her son’s gay wedding to Mrs Prothero, in that son’s mother, as stricken by his crime.  Moreover, there was a very strong smell of spirits in the room, and Owen perceived a bottle and glass, that had been hastily put aside, under a table in the corner.

Mrs Jenkins cried a great deal when she saw Minette, and Owen was soon very sorry that he had brought the child.  However he told her to go to a small inner room, the window of which looked into the street, and her attention was soon quite absorbed.  Her grandmother was in a maudlin condition, out of which, under any other circumstances, Owen would have extracted mirth, but now he only felt anger and sorrow.

’Have you heard anything of Howel, Aunt ‘Lizbeth?’ he asked.

’Oh, annwyl!  No.  Mr Rice Rice is telling me there is a ’ditement brought against him for forgery, and now they can be taking him anywhere, and bringing him to trial as soon as they do find him.  Forgery! name o’ goodness, why ’ould he be forging, as I do say to every one, and his own mother as ’ould be giving him thousands of pounds.  My Howels!  Ach a fi! for sham to them!  But he ’ont be found guilty, if they do tak him.  Owen, bach! it was killing me, ‘deet to goodness it was,’

’Don’t cry, Aunt ‘Lizbeth, I wanted to speak to you about Netta.’

’Oh seure! she ’ont come to see her husband’s mother! and I don’t be cheusing to be turned out of doors again.’