‘Howel,’ he said, ’I do not think my father would approve of Netta’s meeting you here, and, I therefore, must beg to break up an interview that had been better avoided.’

’Whatever right your father may have, sir, to prevent my seeing your sister, at any rate you have none,’ was Howel’s indignant reply.

’Then I shall take a brother’s right, and in the absence of my father, assume his place.  Netta, you know you are doing wrong; come with me.’

Netta hesitated, but her brother’s manner was authoritative, and she felt that she dared not disobey.

’I tell you what it is, Rowland, you have always assumed a tone with me that I neither can nor will brook,’ passionately exclaimed Howel.’  I beg you to account for your conduct, and to understand that I will have either an apology or satisfaction for your ungentlemanly proceedings.’

’I never apologise when I have done no wrong; and as for satisfaction, as you understand it, I have not the power of making it.  I will not desecrate the Sabbath by an unseemly quarrel amidst the most beautiful works of creation, nor offend my sister’s ear by recrimination.  If you have any real regard for her, you will allow her to go home quietly with me, and remember that we are all relations, and ought to be friends.’

’Friends we can never be.  The only friend I have in your family is Owen, except, perhaps, Netta, who is turned by one and the other of you, like a weathercock by the winds.’

‘I beg your pardon, cousin Howel,’ began Netta.

‘We have had enough of this,’ said Rowland calmly.  ’If you choose to come and see us as a relation, in a straightforward manner, Howel, we should be glad to see you, but underhand ways are equally disagreeable to us all.’

‘How remarkably condescending!’ said Howel with a sneer.  ’But I will not waste time with a canting, Methodist parson like you.  I wish you as many converts as you desire, but not myself amongst them.  Remember, Netta!  Good bye.  I suppose your most excellent brother will allow us to shake hands.’

Netta held out her hand, and as Howel shook it, he again repeated the word ‘remember.’  Rowland advanced a pace or two, and partly extended his hand.  Howel turned abruptly away, and with a contemptuous glance, merely said, ‘Good day to you,’ The brother and sister took an opposite course to his, and had to cross the brook, whilst he pushed his way through the briers that had impeded Netta’s path.  He turned and watched them as they stepped from stone to stone, and finally ascended the ravine.  Netta looked round, and he kissed his hand to her, to which she responded by nodding her head; but Rowland neither turned to the right nor left.

‘Meddling coxcomb!’ he exclaimed, ’what is there in him that commands the attention and respect that I fail to obtain with ten times his talents?’

He stood for a few minutes musing, whilst the music of the waterfall insensibly soothed his irritated mind.