and I don't think spirits good for you.
You had better be careful.'

'I don't be drinking a wine glass full in a week, but when I am having
the spasms, and now I am vexing so, they was coming oftener than they
was eused to.'

Owen left Mrs Jenkins with a heavy heart, foreseeing her end; Minette
said she didn't like her because she smelt so of wine, and wasn't a
lady.

The next day but one Gladys went to see her, and did what she could to
comfort and help her; she was used to all sorts of sorrow and sin, and
was so gentle a consoler, and so Christian an adviser, that poor Mrs
Jenkins asked her to come and stay with her always; but that could not
be; she went, however, as often as she could leave Netta.

Netta's will and word was now law with her father; he refused her
nothing; he even allowed her to see her mother-in-law, provided the
meeting was managed when he was from home. It was so managed, and a
melancholy meeting it proved; the old woman's tears and sobs were so
irrepressible, that Gladys was obliged to shorten it as much as
possible; Netta, however, was calmer than she expected.

'Mother,' she said, 'I want you to promise me one thing. If I die--'

'Oh, Netta, fach! why was you talking of dying? you 'ont be dying.'

'I said _if_, mother. I wish Gladys, who is going to marry Owen--'

'Gladys, Owen! name o' goodness! and your father! he 'ouldn't let you
marry my Howels, and she--'

'Is very good, mother, whilst I am very bad. But I wish her and Owen to
bring up my child; you must tell Howel so, when he comes back; and when
she is grown up, she will be a comfort to you and him. My head is
confused; I dreamt last night Howel was here, and he was going to take
away Minette. Is he with you, mother? tell me! do you know where he is?
Oh! if I could see him once more! once more!'

'He is being safe in America, Netta, fach, but is coming home soon I am
thinking. Don't you be dying; he was doating upon you, and if he do come
home, and don't be finding you, he'll be dying too.'

'Are you sure he will come back? Did he tell you so himself?'

'To be seure. He is coming back soon, only he must be paying his debts
first. Come you!'

Mrs Jenkins' unmitigated falsehoods did Netta a great deal of good; they
cheered her, and gave her hope for the time. Gladys doubted whether
hopes so based, and to be so miserably crushed, were to be encouraged,
but she had not the heart to undeceive her.

When Mr Prothero returned