I have written to Owen. He will get
the letter to-morrow, and be here the next day. You can start the day
after to-morrow, if you will try to rouse yourself, and eat and drink.'
'Yes, I will; but I am afraid of father. It is nearly ten years since I
saw him, and if he is cross now, I shall die.'
'He will be kind, quite kind.'
'Are you sure?'
'Yes, quite sure.'
'And will you come and see me, Rowland? I used to think you cross too,
but now you are very good to me. Do you think it was wrong of me to run
away with Howel? You know he loves me; he says so, Rowland.'
Here Netta pressed her hand upon the letter that was in her bosom, and
Rowland kissed her tenderly.
At intervals, during that day and the next, Netta made fitful efforts
to exert herself, but it was evident to all that her body was getting
weaker, and every one dreaded the journey in prospect, and longed for
its conclusion.
Netta had taken a sudden and violent interest in teaching her child to
read and repeat hymns. The hymns that it pleased Minette best to learn
were some that Gladys had sung at her mother's request. These Netta did
not know by heart, indeed, her failing memory prevented her retaining
anything she had once known; so an old hymn book was produced from
Gladys' book-shelf, which contained these hymns that she had been taught
in her childhood by her mother.
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