We are not to suppose that the ‘Ethiopian’s skin’ was changed because it was pierced.  Howel continued outwardly proud, scornful, and hard to the last; but Rowland witnessed the struggle that went on within to maintain that bearing, and knew that some good might arise even out of the spendthrift and the forger.

‘You will take care of Minette amongst you, for her mother’s sake,’ he said to Rowland.

‘And for yours, and her own,’ was the reply.

’Tell her not to hate her father.  You who never told her mother of my—­I suppose I must use the word—­crime, will be as gentle as you can in letting the child know who and what her father is.  I thank you all, more for keeping her in ignorance till death, than for all the rest.’

’And for her sake, Howel, you will read that book, and pray to be kept from temptation.’

’What temptation shall I have?  I shall be more inclined to pray to be thrown into temptation.’

‘Oh, Howel!’

’Well!  This convict ship and the ocean, and chains and hard labour at the end, don’t seem very inviting.  I know it has been my own fault and my father’s, but that doesn’t make it better; however, I will try.  And if ever I get back to Old England again a reformed character, will you lend me a helping hand, or turn your back upon me?’

‘Give you the hand of friendship and brotherhood.’

’Thank you; and don’t let them quite desert my mother.  Bad as she is, I am worse, and I have ruined her; a worse thing that than getting a little money out of those turf-dupes and idiots, though hers was ill-gotten wealth.’

’We will take care of your mother amongst us as well as we can.  My mother never forsakes an old friend.’

’Give my love to her; she was kind to me and to my child.  All the rest have deserted me, and wished me hanged.  But I have to thank you, who always despised me, for being here now, and for your anxiety about me.  Rowland, you are a better fellow than I thought you, and you have helped to rid me of some of those spectres that haunted me night and day.  You must go!  I know it.  Alone! alone! with this crew!  Is this Heaven’s law or man’s? and I was not made for this.  I shall destroy myself—­I must—­I will.  Good-bye! oh Rowland! cousin! brother! remember me, for God’s sake and for hers!’

The hands of the minister of the Gospel and the felon were clasped for a few seconds, as if they could never unlink, and then, with a heavy groan, Howel sank down upon some timber that was near him, and covered his face with his hands.  Thick tears filled Rowland’s eyes as he stooped over his wretched cousin, and again whispered, ’God bless you, cousin Howel, God bless you.’

And so they parted.

CHAPTER LIII.

GLADYS REAPING HER FRUITS.

Our story began at Glanyravon, in the cheery month of June, and at
Glanyravon, in the same cheery month, we will end it.