sed him; but then I
was an Irish beggar, and nothing more, and I would have died rather than
have brought disgrace into his family. And still my promise to his
father is binding, and without his consent I never could--but where am I
wandering? Maybe he'll not care for me now I am all this older--and he
so handsome that he may have any one in and about Glanyravon.'

Gladys cast a shy look into her glass, and a delicate blush kindled her
cheek as those dark violet eyes glanced from beneath their long black
fringes. Gladys! you are but a weak woman after all.

When Gladys was dressed, she gently awoke Minette, and took her into the
dressing-room to attire her also.

'Gladys, dear, how pretty you look!' exclaimed the child, 'you have a
pink cheek, and your eyes are as bright as the sky; and you have such a
pretty gown and collar, and everything. You are quite a lady, now you
have left off that gown mamma gave you so long ago. Is Uncle Owen, who
is coming to-day, as nice as Uncle Rowland? Do you love him as well,
Gladys?'

'He is very, very nice, dear, and as kind as any gentleman in the
world.'

The little girl clapped her hands.

'I shall like to go to Glanyravon and make mamma quite well.'

Soon after breakfast, Rowland arrived, accompanied by Owen, who had
travelled all night.

Gladys was with Netta in her bedroom, but all the rest of the family
welcomed Owen. Mr Jones shook him by the hand with peculiar warmth,
because he was given to understand that he loved his newly-found niece.

Minette was soon on his knee, and in less than ten minutes had duly
informed him that she loved him next to Uncle Rowland and that Gladys
told her he 'was the nicest gentleman in the world.'

Owen laughed heartily at this, to conceal his rising colour, and said,--

'And how is Gladys?'

'Quite well; she is coming to Glanyravon with us, to take care of mamma
and me.'

Here Mrs Jones interposed, and explained how matters stood.

In a few moments Gladys appeared to say that Netta was ready in her
little sitting-room to see her brothers.

Owen was not shy, so he walked bravely across the room to meet Gladys,
and to shake hands with her, so thoroughly _con amore_ that if, as
Minette expressed it, her cheek was pink when she entered the room, it
was crimson when she quitted it.

Mr and Mrs Jones looked at one another with great satisfaction, and
somehow or other Rowland's eyes met Miss Gwynne's, and both smiled
involuntarily.