Miss Netta home again, if we pray for it.'

'What's the girl preaching about?' said Mr Prothero, glancing sternly at
Gladys, who was silenced at once. 'Now, mother, we mustn't let that
undutiful girl upset us. I must go to the wheat-field--you must--' he
looked at his wife, and changed what he was going to say to, 'lie in
bed.'

'No, Davy, I can't lie in bed, I must go and look for Netta.'

'Now, wife, I 'ont have none of this nonsense. You must either lie in
bed or go about your work. The whole house sha'n't be turned
topsey-turvey for a baggage like that.'

Mr Prothero left the room, and his wife insisted upon getting up.

'If you could pray for her, ma'am, you would be happier, and perhaps
poor Miss Netta might be helped in a way we cannot see.'

'Pray for me, Gladys, I cannot think or pray for myself, I am so
bewildered.'

The two earnest-minded women knelt down by the bedside, and Gladys
offered up a simple prayer in her clear, strong language, for the 'poor
lamb who had strayed from the fold;' in which the mother joined in the
midst of her sobs and tears. When they arose from their knees, Mrs
Prothero kissed Gladys, and said she would go downstairs, and try to
work, and seek to keep her heart in prayer.

And the day wore through, until the evening brought Mr and Mrs Jonathan
Prothero. For the first time, Mrs Jonathan comforted her sister-in-law.

'Now, really, I do not see why you should be so very much distressed,'
she said. 'Howel is a fine, clever young man, with plenty of money. He
is sure to make his way into good society, and to place Netta in a
superior position. Of course, it was very wrong of her to elope, very;
but your husband is so obstinate that they knew he would never consent,
and what else were they to do? I confess I should have done the very
same thing. As to his not marrying her after all, that is absurd. He is
devotedly attached to her, and he knows that with her beauty and spirit,
she will soon be fit for good society.'

Mr Jonathan was not so successful with his brother. After saying that he
had seen a carriage and pair pass at about six that morning, he
proceeded to offer consolation.

'It is according to nature, brother. Since the creation, the man has
cleaved to the woman and the woman to the man. You married according to
your fancy, so did I; so have men and women ever since the world began.
It may turn out better than you imagine.'

'Brother Jo!' thundered the farmer, 'hol