‘But suppose they are determined,’ said Mrs Prothero.

’Then I’ll wash my hands of ’em for ever, and vow Netta’s no girl of mine.  Go you, Owen, and send off that fine yellar-band, sent to astonish me, and tell him I’ll have nothing to do with his master nor him.’

‘But, father, you must write!’

’Write! not I:  but stop, I’ll write.  Bring the paper.  Haven’t you got any with a fine gloss, and coloured?’

’Now, David, bach, if you would only consider a little.  I am really afraid of the consequences.’

’Now, mother, my mind’s made up, and you won’t wheedle me in this matter.  So, here’s the pen and ink,’

Mr Prothero sat down and wrote the following reply to Howel’s note:—­

’HOWEL,—­You have had my answer before now, and you may have it again.  When I know you’re out-and-out a changed man, I may think differently; but I don’t know it yet, so you shall not have my consent to marry Netta.  One hundred pounds of steadiness and honesty is worth a hundred thousand pounds of gold.  I wish you well, but if you was king of England you shouldn’t have my girl as you are now.’—­Yours to command, ‘DAVID PROTHERO,’

‘There, mother, there’s my mind,’ said Mr Prothero, giving the note to his wife.

‘Well, David, I believe you are right, only Netta is so determined!’

’Determined, is she!  Then I’ll lock her up.  Take that to yon yellar-band, Owen.’

Owen took the note to the servant

‘Tell your master that I am coming to see him this evening,’ he said, and soliloquised thus when the man was gone.  ’Howel is a good fellow, I believe, only a little extravagant and gay.  I must tell him not to be down-hearted about Netta.  Why, the girl isn’t worth such a bother?  I never saw one that was yet.  It would take a great deal of time and trouble to work me up into that kind of thing—­and at least a dozen girls.  Netta’s very pretty, to be sure, but she has a will of her own, and so has Howel.  I am sure they would soon fight.  As to father, he is as obstinate as a mule.  And Howel with such a mint of money!  But I like father’s pride, and I must say I reel proud of him for it.  I would never give in just because a man has suddenly got a fortune.’

When Owen had arrived at this conclusion, he perceived Netta coming towards him.

‘What did that servant want, Owen?’ she asked when she came quite near? ‘and what were those two notes about?’

’I dare say you know, Miss Netta.  It is all over with you for this present.  Howel has popped the question, and father has refused him.’

If Owen had ever been really in love, he would have spoken less abruptly on such a delicate subject, as he found, when he saw Netta turn pale, then red, then burst into tears and run away from him into the house.

He followed her, somewhat distressed, to the door of her bedroom.  He knocked gently, but received no answer.