ever come. That Madame
Duvet, too! One cannot help paying her attention, and she is very
handsome and agreeable; but even if there were no Gladys, she wouldn't
suit me; and here am I almost making her believe--Pashaw! She don't care
for me. What a vain fellow I am! But, I suppose, as Netta says, they
admire my beard. All but Gladys, who won't even look at it, or me. I
wonder what she would think of me in the midst of all these fine people,
dressed up in Howel's London attire! At any rate I shouldn't be half as
worthy of her good opinion as when I carried that unfortunate mash to
the Alderney, which caused the rumpus with my father. How beautiful the
girl looked, leaning upon that fortunate animal; and what a fool I made
of myself on the other side of her! Well, I was never so happy at home
before; and I know it isn't right to leave my father and mother; and I
have never done any good all my life; and I, the eldest son, and very
nearly thirty years of age! Poor uncle and aunt gave me an education, to
very little purpose I fear; and I shall have to answer for the use I
have made of it, just as those Sabbath-breakers downstairs will have to
answer for profaning this holy day. Half of it is the force of example.
Here is Howel leading Netta to destruction, just as Gladys might lead me
to--heaven, I verily believe. Rowland used to argue with me about
individual responsibility, and I suppose he was in the right of it.'

CHAPTER XXXI.

THE PATRON'S WIFE.

The following morning, Netta was not well, and did not appear at the
breakfast-table. Howel said she had a bad headache, and did not intend
going to church.

Breakfast was hurried over to prepare for a six miles' drive to church,
and the carriage conveyed the two ladies and three of the gentlemen
thither, resplendent with fashion and emblazoned prayer-books. Mr Deep
did not go, and Owen determined to remain at home, in order to secure
the desired conversation with Netta.

Mr Deep, however, seized upon him first of all.

It had not escaped that keen observer, that Howel had hinted the
previous evening that Owen possessed property in reversion; which,
indeed, he did, inasmuch as his father was a small landed proprietor,
and had several farms of his own, descended to him from his father, and
entailed upon Owen.

Mr Deep was reading some racing calendar, and called Owen's attention to
his brother-in-law's name in connection with the names of men of note on
the