Owen did what he could to assist and comfort all, and Miss Gwynne and Miss Hall sent every kind of nourishing food from the Park.
On the fifth morning, Owen rode into the town in the vague hope that he should hear something of his sister, either through Mrs Jenkins's servant or the post.

Mrs Jenkins had not returned, but there was a neat, smooth letter for his father, directed by Howel, with which he rode off homewards at full gallop.

He longed to open it, but he dared not.

He was fearful that his father would put it into the fire unread, so he formed twenty plans for securing it, which he knew he could not carry out; however, when he returned home and sought his father in the harvest field, he said,-- 'Father, I have a letter directed by Howel.

Will you let me open it for mother's sake ?' 'If it is yours, do what you will with it?
if it is mine, burn it unread.' 'But, father, surely you would do something to save mother's life.