He followed her upstairs,
and soon perceived that Mrs Prothero was really in a kind of swoon.
Whilst he supported her, Gladys brought water and such restoratives as
she could procure; she begged him to go for his father, and whilst he
was gone, succeeded in restoring Mrs Prothero. At the sight of the open
letter, however, she sank again into a fainting fit.
Mr Prothero and Owen appeared.
'Mother, what is the matter? Name o' goodness what is the matter?' said
Mr Prothero in great alarm.
Gladys pointed out the letter to Owen, who glanced at it whilst his
father took his wife into his arms.
Gladys put vinegar to her temples and nostrils, and begged Mr Prothero
to take her to the open window; as he did so he saw Owen reading a
letter.
'How can you read now, you unnatural son?' he said sternly.
'Oh, father! father, Netta!' he exclaimed.
'Never mind her; think of your mother, ten thousand times as precious.'
At last Gladys succeeded in restoring Mrs Prothero to consciousness and
when she found herself in her husband's arms, with Owen bending over
her, she burst into a flood of hysterical tears, which partially
relieved her.
'Oh, Netta! Netta!' was all she could say, when they asked her what was
the matter.
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