now that she was watched.

They resorted to every possible means of amusement, but in vain. She was
quite preoccupied, and even her child failed to attract her attention.
Again she became nervous at every sudden sound, and started at every
footfall. She told Gladys that she knew that Howel would either come to
her during the course of that week, or that she should go to him.

Her mother assisted her in going to bed that night, and before she laid
down, she said,--

'Dear mother! do you remember that you used to come to this dear room
when I was a child, the last thing at night, and, sleeping or waking, to
kiss me before you went to sleep? and do you remember that I always said
my prayers at your knee, in that very corner by the little table?
Sometimes I feel as if I was a child, or quite a young girl again. It
was so good of you to give me my own room, and my own bed, that I love
so well. If I go away, I should like Minette to have this room. It will
make her think of me. I pray she may be a better child than I have
been.'

'Will you not get into bed, dear, and try to sleep?' said Mrs Prothero.

'I think I should like to say my prayers again alone with you; so, at
your feet. You shall pray for me, and I will join with you.'

Netta knelt, as if she were, indeed, once more a child, at her mother's
knees, and clasped her thin white hands together.

'Will you pray for Howel, mother?' asked Netta.

Mrs Prothero laid her hand on her kneeling daughter's head, and
uplifting her tearful eyes to heaven, prayed aloud for Netta, for Howel,
for all. Netta repeated each sentence after her mother, and when the
prayer was concluded, threw her arms around her, and thanked her for
praying for Howel.

'I cannot deceive you again mother, fach,' she said 'I am going away to
seek Howel, because he cannot come to me. If I should never find him,
mother--but I shall, I know I shall, if I should die on the road--tell
him that I never loved any one but him all my life, and I am sure he
loves me. And now I am at peace with all the world, and have repented of
all my sins. Gladys thinks I shall go to heaven if I die. And I humbly
believe I shall. I feel quite calm and happy in my own mind, only
wishful to go to my poor Howel, who is alone and unhappy. Now, mother, I
will go to bed.'

She went to bed accordingly.

'Let Minette come and say good-night to me, mother,' she said, when Mrs
Prothero had made her comfortable.

Mrs Prothero ca