'I will bring her,' said Mr Jones, 'and she can but return, if you
cannot prevail on your sister to see her.'
Rowland could only press the hands of his kind friends, and hurry back
to Netta.
He found her sitting in an old easy-chair, with Minette on a stool at
her feet, fast asleep. The child refused to go to bed till 'Uncle
Rowland' came back. There was a bright fire in the grate, and a supper
was spread on a table drawn close to it. Candles replaced the gas-lamp,
and the room looked almost cheerful, in spite of its faded red curtains
and dingy furniture.
Netta had a small book in her hand, which she gave Rowland to look at.
'Mother gave me that when I was ill years ago--how long ago? How old is
Minette?'
'She must be nearly eight, I think,' said Rowland, turning over the
small, well-read Testament that had once been his mother's.
'I like that book now, Rowland!' said Netta. 'I am so glad you have come
back. It seemed so lonesome when you were gone. Ha! ha! Howel used to
say I must say _lonely_ and not lonesome. Are you sure he won't come and
find you here?'
'Quite sure. And I am going to bring another old friend to see you?--you
remember Gladys?'
'Gladys! No, I don't remember her. What! The Irish beggar? I don't like
her, and she don't like me. I think I was very unkind to her. Yes, I
should like to see her once to ask her pardon.'
Minette awoke just at this moment, and Rowland took her on his knee, and
gave her some supper, and tried to make Netta eat, but it was evident
that she had neither appetite nor inclination for food, though she did
her best to please her brother.
'This is like old times, Rowland,' she said. 'I like it better than
grandeur. When will Gladys come? Owen told me she saved mother's life.
Is it true? Why doesn't mother come?'
'Would you like to see Gladys to-night, Netta?'
'Yes. Will you go and fetch her?'
Rowland found Gladys and Mr Jones in Mrs Saunders' parlour. Gladys said
she would take her bonnet off, that she might meet Netta as she used to
do at the farm.
Rowland did not know that Gladys had put on the identical print gown
that Netta had given her years ago, and which she had kept carefully, in
remembrance of her. This and a plain cap transformed her into the Gladys
of Netta's recollection, from the Gladys of Miss Gwynne's attiring.
Her heart beat almost as quickly as Netta's as she entered her room, but
she steadied her nerves and voice as she went up to Netta, curtseyed,
and said quite naturally,--
'How do you do, Miss Netta?'
Netta put her hand to her brow, as if to clear her memory, and fixed her
large bewildered eyes on Gladys. Then she put out her hand, rather
condescendingly, with something of the old attempt at superiority, and
finally burst into tears.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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