but still money won its usual way. And when
Howel's chariot came to the door, there were more surprised and admiring
eyes fixed upon it from the bystanders without, than on that of any
other of the assembled party. As Mrs Griffey Jenkins said when she heard
of the evening gaieties,--

'Deet to goodness, and my Howel's was grander than any one. I do answer
for that. Now his is a beauty carriage and horses, and servants as grand
as Queen Victoria's or Prince Albert's, for I did be seeing them in
London myself.'

CHAPTER XXX.

THE PATRON.

Tuesday and Wednesday had passed quickly away, and Thursday brought to
Owen amusements similar to those of the previous days; but no private
intercourse with his relations. In the evening of his third day at
Abertewey, there was a concert at the neighbouring town, huge bills of
which had been posted up on the walls and houses of the said town,
purporting that the entertainment was under the immediate patronage of
Howel Jenkins, Esq. of Plas Abertewey, and his friends. Elegant little
pink and blue programmes were scattered over that patriotic gentleman's
tables, and he had used his eloquent language, and made great efforts to
get together a large party for the occasion.

It was principally a Welsh concert, he urged, and he considered it right
to patronise native talent. There was the celebrated _Eos_, and the last
representative of the ancient bards, and the best specimen of a Welsh
harper, besides several respectable English singers, and he, for one,
should muster as many supporters as he possibly could.

He did so, accordingly, and with that spirit of liberality which
characterised him when any popularity was to be acquired thereby
purchased a great number of tickets, and distributed them amongst his
servants and neighbours with majestic grace. He had managed to enlist a
large party at Mr Rice Rice's the previous evening, some of whom were to
dine at Abertewey, and to go thence to the concert; others to meet him
and his friends there.

Owen felt lost in the grandeur of that evening, and would have been
quite forgotten but for Mme. Duvet, who was constant in her admiration
of him. But it was amusement and wonder enough for him to watch Howel
and Netta, quite _en prince et princesse_, receiving their guests, who,
if not as yet of the aristocracy of the county, were of high
respectability and good position in it. If the host and hostess were
rather desirous of showing