, and the answer was, 'Yes.'
As to Mr Jones, his embrace made Owen exclaim, 'It is well I know you
are her uncle now. I was as jealous as could be when you kissed her in
London.' Minette's embrace was a long hug, and when the vicar came in,
he wound up the scene by a salute as original as himself, which called
forth the following reproof from his brother:--

'Why, man, you don't know how to kiss. You stumbled upon the very tip of
her nose, and almost put her eyes out with your spectacles.'

Heedless of the interruption, Mr Jonathan addressed his niece as
follows:--

'My dear Niece, Claudia,--I shall henceforth call you by that name, in
memory of her of the Epistle, and I so registered it just now, Gladys or
Claudia--I wish you and my good nephew, Owen, all happiness and
prosperity, both spiritual and temporal. I pray that you may, according
to the example of your illustrious namesake, devote yourself to works of
piety and hospitality, making your husband's home happy, and keeping a
place therein for his and your friends.'

'To be sure she will, uncle,' said Owen, 'and we will have an especial
corner for you, called "The Claudia," where the little hypocrite shall
talk to you of all the druidical remains, and fossil mammoths, that she
pretends to be so interested in.'

'You had better come and take off your bonnet now, my dear,' said Mrs
Jonathan to the flushed and shy Gladys.

'I hope I shall never be married,' whispered Freda to Mrs Jones, 'if I
am to undergo that sort of ordeal. But I suppose all brides are not
kissed in that way.'

Uncle and Aunt Jonathan had prepared a substantial early dinner--they
did not dignify it by the name of _dejeuner_, or miscall it
breakfast--to which, in the course of an hour or so, the family party
sat down, much as they would have sat down to any ordinary dinner. The
dining-table just accommodated ten comfortably, and Netta sat in her
easy-chair by the fire, with a small table by her side, making the
eleventh.

Miss Gwynne remained to luncheon only, being engaged to dine at
Abertewey, and not considering herself quite as one of the guests. She
had come uninvited and unexpected, to show due honour to Gladys and her
dear friends, Mr and Mrs Jones, and the whole party were gratified by
the attention.

The remarks upon her doing so made by her friends at home, were various.

'Freda is certainly very eccentric,' said Lady Mary to her husband. 'Her
former maid--your tenant's son--