t out, called it a lark? Do you think a great
fortune will all of a sudden change such a chap as that into an honest
man? No, what's ill got is ill spent, and old Giffrey Jenkins's money
'ill never turn to good account. He that grinds the poor, and goes
against scripture as a usurer, 'ill never find his son do well. Howel
shall never have my consent to marry Netta, and there's an end of it.'

'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
fat