d.

And 'very bad,' Netta undoubtedly was all that night. Dr Richards did
not leave the house, and in due course of time the other medical man
arrived; still, the half-expressed and wholly felt wishes of her
mother-in-law for her death were not realised. The dawn of morning found
her sleeping peaceably with her infant in her arms, and her mother
thanking God that she was better.

At ten o'clock in the morning, carriage wheels were again heard, and Mrs
Prothero trembled as Howel entered the house, and there was a
consultation of doctors as to the propriety of his seeing his wife at
once.

Mrs Griffey anticipated every one else by going direct to Howel.

'How is she, mother?' were his first words.

'Better they do say.'

'Then why on earth did they telegraph for me. It may be the loss of
thousands.'

'Mrs Prothero is with Netta, Howel, bach.'

'Who dared to bring her into my house?'

'Netta, I 'spose. They was turning _me_ out of Glanyravon.'

'And I'll turn her out of Abertewey, the canting old humbug.'

Here Dr Richards came in.

'She is out of danger, I hope, Mr Jenkins; anxiety about you reduced her
so low; and I took upon myself to send for her mother, who has roused
her, and, I believe, saved her life. She knows you are come, and perhaps
the sight of you for a moment may not injure her, as she is very anxious
to see you; but we must not excite her.'

Howel looked paler and darker than usual, and Dr Richards attributed it,
and his silence, to his emotion. They went together upstairs, and Howel
stood by the bed where lay his young wife and his first-born child. As
he looked upon the pale face of Netta, and saw her large black eyes
gleam with joy, and her lips purse themselves up like a double cherry,
to kiss him, he was touched. He bent over her, and kissed her warmly.
When she uncovered a small portion of the bed-clothes, and displayed the
infant that lay in her arms, a smile passed over his countenance, and he
kissed his wife and child together.

'Dear Howel,' murmured Netta, as the nurse covered up the mother and her
babe, and the doctor touched Howel, and told him to come away. He caught
sight of the trembling Mrs Prothero as he was leaving the room, and a
terrible frown passed over his face. She followed him downstairs, and
anticipated his abuse of her, by saying at once, gently, but firmly,--

'Howel, I came here at Dr Richards' summons to my dying child. My
husband did not even know I was com