mself before some
smoking rashers of bacon; 'she's always late, I'll say that for her.'

Owen did his father's bidding, but returned exclaiming,--

'She is up and out of her room. There must be something wonderful to
make her go out before breakfast.'

'Such a lovely morning,' said Mrs Prothero, 'I daresay she is in the
garden.'

'Well, let her find her way in,' said the farmer; 'she knows the hour,
and we'll fall to. Say grace, mother, if you please.'

Mrs Prothero said grace, and the trio sat down to breakfast.

'I expect brother Jo and Mrs Jonathan to-day,' said Mr Prothero; 'they
are going to a clerical meeting, and are coming here on their way back.'

'Dear me!' said Mrs Prothero. 'What can we have for dinner?'

'Eggs and bacon. What better?' said the farmer. 'But you needn't be
afraid, they 'ont come till tea. Owen, I wish you'd just look out and
see after that idle slut Netta.'

Off started Owen with a piece of bread and butter in his hand.

'Mother, why don't you make that girl more regular?' asked Mr Prothero.

'Oh, David! you know she doesn't mind me.'

'Then you should make her.'

Mrs Prothero could have said, 'You should have helped me to make her all
her life,' but she refrained.

'Can't find her,' cried Owen, returning.

'Perhaps she is ill upstairs,' suggested Mrs Prothero, rising, and
running up to her room.

The room was empty, as we know, and Mrs Prothero was about to leave it
again, when she went to the open window to see if she could espy Netta
from it. She passed the dressing-table as she did so, and perceiving a
letter, glanced at the direction. She was surprised to find it addressed
to herself, and on a nearer examination saw that it was in Netta's
handwriting. It was with a trembling hand and foreboding heart that she
took it up and broke the seal After she had done this, she was some time
before she could summon courage to open it. When she did so, her brain
swam as she read the following words, written with trembling fingers:--

'DEAR MOTHER,--I am going to marry cousin Howel. Father won't
consent, so we are going to London to be married. I hope you will
forgive me for not telling you, but I knew it was no good, as
father is so much against it. I am sure I shall be very happy, only
I should like to have been married properly at home; but it is not
my fault that father would not hear of it, and that Howel would not
wait. We are going to Fran