We don't know whether she can ever recover. Her
mind is wandering, and has been ever since that--Howel left her; she
thinks he is gone for debt, and if she knew the real state of the case,
it would probably be the death of her. If we could manage a meeting
between you, could you speak only of Howel's debts, and not of this
terrible suspicion.'

'Seurely I could; but I 'ont go to Glanyravon; if your father was
turning me out of doors then, what will he be doing now?'

'We must see, Aunt 'Lizbeth? poor Netta sends her love to you, and begs
you to keep up; she says she is sure Howel will come back; I was to tell
you this.'

'Netta! Netta! poor dear, poor dear.'

Mrs Jenkins began to rock herself to and fro in her chair violently, and
to cry hysterically.

'He was very fond of her, Owen; you don't think she'll be dying? I do be
wishing all day long that she hadn't gone off with him, and that my
Griffey hadn't left all that money--and--and--tak you a glass of
brandy and water, Owen, it will be warming you after your cold walk, and
I do feel so poorly and wretched all over, that I'll be having a drop
along.'

'No thank you, aunt, we must be going; what of the counsel for Howel?'

'Oh, I do be having the best in all London; Prince Albert or Queen
Victoria 'ouldn't be having a better; to think of him as was dining with
them wanst.'

'Don't believe such nonsense, Aunt 'Lizbeth.'

'Was you thinking that my Howels is not telling the treuth? But I am
seure they 'ont be finding him; they was telling me that America, where
they do think he is gone, is bigger than all Wales, and England, and
London put together. Oh, if I could be going to him, I 'ouldn't be
vexing shocking, as I was now. All that money that my Griffey was
putting by in pence and sixpences and shillings all gone, and he no
better, and Howels no better, and I no better, 'scept that I did be
seeing London. Come you, Owen, tak you a drop of brandy and water. I do
tak it very kind of you to be coming to see me.'

'What message shall I give Netta, Aunt 'Lizbeth?'

'Give you her my love, and I'll be seeing her whenever she do like. Tell
you her that Howels shall be having every penny his poor old mother do
own to set him right again; he'll be seure to be proving himself right,
come you. Them Simpsons and Spendalls were always living upon him, and
now to be turning against him. Ach a fi! now do be taking a drop before
you do go.'

'No thank you, Aunt 'Lizbeth;