arm,
or father and mother; papa and mamma now, little coz. Miss Simpson
guesses it is an elopement, I think, but I haven't told her so. They are
very great friends of mine; very grand people.'

'Quite like Lady Nugent, I suppose,' suggests Netta.

'Quite--grander indeed. Well, I have ordered the wedding-breakfast,
carriages, everything. Never had such fun in my life. It was quite an
excitement. You don't know half my talents yet.'

'Suppose brother Rowland were to hear of it?' says Netta, frightened at
the idea.

Howel laughs aloud, and awakes his mother.

'He is east, we are west, my dear cousin. He is amongst the plebeians,
we the patricians; he is _canaille_, we are _noblesse_.'

'What are they, Howel?'

''Tis a pleasure to be hearing you talk, Howel,' says Mrs Jenkins,
yawning and rubbing her eyes.

'I was saying, mother, that we are to have a grand wedding, and you must
take care not to let anything come out about the shop, faugh! or,
indeed, not talk much to the friends I have asked--Lady Simpson, for
instance,'

'Oh, yes? you was telling me of her. Wasn't it when you was dining with
Prince Albert wanst, and was wanting that money of my Griffey?'

'Do hold your tongue, mother,' shouts Howel, shuddering; he always
shivers when he hears his father's name.

He sees a head trying to peep through the curtain, and thinks it best to
hold his tongue for a time, then continues,--

'I mean, mother, don't mention my dining with the prince, or any of
these old stories, to the Simpsons. You must both be very careful of
what you say. I shall show you as much as I can of London to-morrow,
mother, as you will be obliged to return the day after.'

'Deet now, I did be thinking I should stay a week in London, now I am
going there for the first time in my life? I'll be staying after you,
Howel, bach. I've plenty of money now.'

'You shall come up again to meet us when we return; but you must be at
home to see to the house, and let us know what is said of our doings.
You see we shall go direct to Paris, stay some time abroad, and then
come and settle at home. Won't we astonish the county! Mr and Mrs Howel
Jenkins will be no longer the Howel and Netta of old days; we shall be
the upon, not the fawners!'

'I'd scorn to fawn on any one, Howel,' says Netta indignantly; 'I never
did in my life. I always gave Miss Rice Rice as big a stare as she gave
me.'

'You will be able to give her a bigger now,' laughs Howel. As th