contrition, bowed by a
will yet stronger than his own, Howel fell on his knees beside his
cousin, and listened to a prayer for pardon and help, that might have
melted the heart of a Nero.

At first he heard as in a dream, then his ears were opened, then his
heart. And at last Rowland's spirit breathed within him the blessed
words, 'Behold he prayeth.'

It is not for us to look into the heart of the criminal, and decide how
God works in it. Even Rowland could not tell the ultimate effect of his
preaching and prayers. All he knew that from that day Howel welcomed him
to his cell as the one hope of his life. He was awakened to a sense of
his condition, and Rowland thanked God, and took courage.

As the meetings and partings of parent and child--however wicked they
both may be--in the cell of a felon, simply harrow the feelings of the
reader, I will pass over those of Howel and his mother. Some
recrimination, and much grief on the one side--some remorse, and much
misery on the other. Rowland did what he could for both until the last
parting was over. And then he left the mother to the care of Mrs Jones
to accompany the son on board the ship that was to convey him to his
convict home.

We are not to suppose that the 'Ethiopian's skin' was changed because it
was pierced. Howel continued outwardly proud, scornful, and hard to the
last; but Rowland witnessed the struggle that went on within to maintain
that bearing, and knew that some good might arise even out of the
spendthrift and the forger.

'You will take care of Minette amongst you, for her mother's sake,' he
said to Rowland.

'And for yours, and her own,' was the reply.

'Tell her not to hate her father. You who never told her mother of my--I
suppose I must use the word--crime, will be as gentle as you can in
letting the child know who and what her father is. I thank you all, more
for keeping _her_ in ignorance till death, than for all the rest.'

'And for _her_ sake, Howel, you will read that book, and pray to be kept
from temptation.'

'What temptation shall I have? I shall be more inclined to pray to be
thrown into temptation.'

'Oh, Howel!'

'Well! This convict ship and the ocean, and chains and hard labour at
the end, don't seem very inviting. I know it has been my own fault and
my father's, but that doesn't make it better; however, I will try. And
if ever I get back to Old England again a reformed character, will you
lend me a helping hand, or turn y