’Oh, yes; my mother is pretty well.  I have been ill, but shall soon be all right again.  Netta, how long is it since we met?’

‘A twelvemonth next Friday.’

’You remember the day, dear Netta.  Then you do not hate me, although they have done their best to make you do so, by calling me gambler, spendthrift, drunkard, and all the charming etceteras.’

‘Oh no, Howel.’

‘Take off that bonnet, and let me see if you are altered.’  He unfastened the strings, and let the long black curls fall over the girl’s neck.  ’No, you are only prettier than ever, cousin Netta.  How would you look in lace and pearls, and all the goodly array of a fine lady?’

’I don’t know, Howel; but tell me what you wanted me for.

’Just let me twist this bunch of roses into your hair first, to see how an evening toilette would become my pretty cousin Netta.’

Howel had torn a spray from the rose-bush at their back, and he inserted it carelessly amongst the curls.

’How well you look, Netta.  I should like to see you in a ball-room.  We will go together to plenty of balls, if you will only consent.’

‘I don’t like those roses, cousin,’ said Netta hastily, ’they are unlucky I think,’ and she tore them from her hair, and threw them, as she had done the previous ones, into the brook.  ’Now let us see where they will go.’

’We have not time, Netta, and I do not know why I am fooling away the hours.  You must answer all my questions truly and plainly.  I am become a rich man, how rich I do not myself know; and I mean to let every one belonging to me see that I can spend my money like a gentleman, and be as grand as those who have hitherto lorded it over me.’

‘Particularly the Rice Rices and Lady Mary Nugent,’ interrupted Netta.

’Would you like to be grander than they, Netta? have a finer carriage, more beautiful clothes, a handsomer house, plate, jewels, servants, and all sorts of magnificence?’

‘Oh, yes, of all things in the world.’

’Then you shall be my wife, Netta, and we will soon see whether we cannot be as grand as the grandest.’

‘Oh, cousin!’

‘Well, dear Netta; tell me, are you changed?’

‘No, cousin.’

‘If I ask your father’s consent, and he gives it, will you marry me?’

’You know we settled that long ago, cousin Howel; but father will not consent, unless—­unless—­’

’Pshaw, but if I ask his consent, and he refuses it, will you marry me then, dear Netta, dear, dear cousin?’

Howel fixed his large, piercing eyes upon Netta, who coloured and trembled, and murmured, ‘Oh, Howel, I don’t know—­how can I?’

’How can you?  Who is to prevent you?  We can marry and go abroad, and return and ask pardon, and I will take a fine house, and they will be only too proud to own us?’

‘Not father, Howel, unless—­’

’Unless I become a steady fellow, and settle down, as I mean to do, if you will marry me.  But if you refuse me, I shall just go on as I am, or put an end to my wretched life perhaps.’