Part 91 (1/2)

They resorted to every possible means of amus.e.m.e.nt, but in vain. She was quite preoccupied, and even her child failed to attract her attention.

Again she became nervous at every sudden sound, and started at every footfall. She told Gladys that she knew that Howel would either come to her during the course of that week, or that she should go to him.

Her mother a.s.sisted her in going to bed that night, and before she laid down, she said,--

'Dear mother! do you remember that you used to come to this dear room when I was a child, the last thing at night, and, sleeping or waking, to kiss me before you went to sleep? and do you remember that I always said my prayers at your knee, in that very corner by the little table?

Sometimes I feel as if I was a child, or quite a young girl again. It was so good of you to give me my own room, and my own bed, that I love so well. If I go away, I should like Minette to have this room. It will make her think of me. I pray she may be a better child than I have been.'

'Will you not get into bed, dear, and try to sleep?' said Mrs Prothero.

'I think I should like to say my prayers again alone with you; so, at your feet. You shall pray for me, and I will join with you.'

Netta knelt, as if she were, indeed, once more a child, at her mother's knees, and clasped her thin white hands together.

'Will you pray for Howel, mother?' asked Netta.

Mrs Prothero laid her hand on her kneeling daughter's head, and uplifting her tearful eyes to heaven, prayed aloud for Netta, for Howel, for all. Netta repeated each sentence after her mother, and when the prayer was concluded, threw her arms around her, and thanked her for praying for Howel.

'I cannot deceive you again mother, fach,' she said 'I am going away to seek Howel, because he cannot come to me. If I should never find him, mother--but I shall, I know I shall, if I should die on the road--tell him that I never loved any one but him all my life, and I am sure he loves me. And now I am at peace with all the world, and have repented of all my sins. Gladys thinks I shall go to heaven if I die. And I humbly believe I shall. I feel quite calm and happy in my own mind, only wishful to go to my poor Howel, who is alone and unhappy. Now, mother, I will go to bed.'

She went to bed accordingly.

'Let Minette come and say good-night to me, mother,' she said, when Mrs Prothero had made her comfortable.

Mrs Prothero called the child, and her grandfather brought her upstairs.

'How does my girl feel to-night?' asked Mr Prothero cheerfully.

'Better, father, thank you; quite well indeed. G.o.d bless you, darling.

Be a good child to grandmother and Aunt Gladys, and all. G.o.d bless you, father. I think I should like to have Owen and Gladys to wish me good-night; it is so nice to see you all together.'

Owen and Gladys came, and Netta bade 'G.o.d bless' them all, and said she should now go to sleep quite happy.

Gladys went to put Minette to bed, and Mrs Prothero sat by Netta's pillow.

'Good-night, mother; G.o.d bless you,' Netta said, more than once, before she fell asleep.

When Gladys returned, she was sleeping peacefully.

'The excitement of the day seems to have pa.s.sed away,' whispered Gladys.

'Let me watch by her, dear mother.'

The words 'mother' and 'daughter' had come quite naturally to Mrs Prothero and Gladys.

'No, Gladys, thank you; not to-night. I will be in the room to-night.'

'Then you will go to bed soon?'