As to his mother, knowing her peculiar tastes, he gave her a
glass of brandy and water, upon plea of illness, which she took with
evident pleasure; but fearing to attract the attention of the smart
people around her, sipped so daintly, that it was not half finished when
the signal to return to the carriages sounded, and Howel hurried her
off.
'Just let me put this piece of chicken and ham into my bag, Howel, and
finish this drop,' she whispered.
'Quick, mother, not a minute,' was all the answer she received,
accompanied by a pull of the sleeve so imperative, that she was obliged
to leave her half filled glass behind her.
At the Oxford Station, Netta began to wonder what Rowland would think of
her conduct.
'Think!' said Howel, with a scowling brow, 'the prig! what right has he
to think? He will know that three or four thousand a-year are somewhat
better than a London curacy--ha! ha! and wish himself in my place, I
fancy,'
As they neared London, Netta was haunted by visions of her brother, the
only person she really feared.
'Suppose he should meet them! should find her out! Suppose the clergyman
who married them should guess, from her name, she was his sister, and go
and tell him?'
Howel laughed heartily at this, told her to look out of the window at
London as they entered it, and see whether she thought one parson would
be likely to be met by chance by another.
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