'
'Particularly the Rice Rices and Lady Mary Nugent,' interrupted Netta.
'Would you like to be grander than they, Netta? have a finer carriage,
more beautiful clothes, a handsomer house, plate, jewels, servants, and
all sorts of magnificence?'
'Oh, yes, of all things in the world.'
'Then you shall be my wife, Netta, and we will soon see whether we
cannot be as grand as the grandest.'
'Oh, cousin!'
'Well, dear Netta; tell me, are you changed?'
'No, cousin.'
'If I ask your father's consent, and he gives it, will you marry me?'
'You know we settled that long ago, cousin Howel; but father will not
consent, unless--unless--'
'Pshaw, but if I ask his consent, and he refuses it, will you marry me
then, dear Netta, dear, dear cousin?'
Howel fixed his large, piercing eyes upon Netta, who coloured and
trembled, and murmured, 'Oh, Howel, I don't know--how can I?'
'How can you? Who is to prevent you? We can marry and go abroad, and
return and ask pardon, and I will take a fine house, and they will be
only too proud to own us?'
'Not father, Howel, unless--'
'Unless I become a steady fellow, and settle down, as I mean to do, if
you will marry me. But if you refuse me, I shall just go on as I am, or
put an end to my wretched life perhaps.
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