spect me of such a
thing? Are my manners so forward, or am I so foolish as to let any one
suppose I could think of people so far above me? This is not kind, Mr
Owen.'

'One more, Gladys. Those beneath you, then. You cannot, I feel you
cannot, think of that gardener or footman at the Park, or of young
Gwillim, the Half Moon, or--there are so many who admire you, Gladys.'

'Oh! no, sir, I do not think so; no one says so to me, and I care for
none of them. Now, I had better go, if you please, Mr Owen--my mistress
will be wanting me.'

'I should think she 'ould, seure enough,' said a stentorian voice, as Mr
Prothero entered the cow-house, having just heard the last words, and
seen the clasped hands.

Gladys looked entreatingly at Owen, who at once said, 'It was my fault
that she stayed here, I kept her against her will.'

Gladys glanced gratefully at Owen, and left him with his father; but
before she was out of hearing, the farmer's loud voice was audible,
informing Owen that he 'didn't want another 'lopement from his house;
and that that Irish beggar should leave the place.'

'It was all chance, father, and my fault,' said Owen.

'It's always chance and your fault then. Where Gladys is, you're seure
to be pretty near. She's a good sort of young 'ooman enough, but you
have no call to be for ever hunting after her.'

'I don't see why I shouldn't if I like. It doesn't hurt anybody, and is
only kind to her.'

'But I don't cheuse her to be thinking you're going to make love to her,
and by-and-by, perhaps, expecting to--there's no knowing what young
'oomen may expect.'

'She isn't one to expect very much, and I am sure she doesn't take any
liberties with any one, or go beyond her place.'

'Treue for you there; but that's no fault of yours. You don't take
notice of any other female that I see, and seure you eused to make love
to them all in turns.'

'I don't see any girl half as good as Gladys, or worthy to light a
candle to her, that's why I have given them all up.'

'Name o' goodness what for? If you are going to make a fool of yourself
about her, I'll soon send her away, and stop that anyhow.'

'You may save yourself the trouble, father, for I am going away myself.
I can't be a land-lubber any longer, and I won't, so I shall look out
for a ship, pretty soon.'

'All because that girl came here to bother us. Deet to goodness, them
Irishers have been the plagues of my life ever since I married.'

'But she's W