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affirmed that the lad had been completely stupefied by the life he
led at Bodowen。 He bade fair to do credit to the school in the
peculiar branch of learning for which it was famous。 But he was not
popular among his schoolfellows。 He was wayward； though； to a
certain degree； generous and unselfish； he was reserved but gentle；
except when the tremendous bursts of passion （similar in character to
those of his father） forced their way。
On his return from school one Christmas…time； when he had been a year
or so at Bangor； he was stunned by hearing that the undervalued
Augharad was about to be married to a gentleman of South Wales；
residing near Aberystwith。 Boys seldom appreciate their sisters； but
Owen thought of the many slights with which he had requited the
patient Augharad； and he gave way to bitter regrets； which； with a
selfish want of control over his words； he kept expressing to his
father； until the Squire was thoroughly hurt and chagrined at the
repeated exclamations of 〃What shall we do when Augharad is gone？〃
〃How dull we shall be when Augharad is married！〃 Owen's holidays
were prolonged a few weeks； in order that he might be present at the
wedding； and when all the festivities were over； and the bride and
bridegroom had left Bodowen； the boy and his father really felt how
much they missed the quiet； loving Augharad。 She had performed so
many thoughtful； noiseless little offices； on which their daily
comfort depended； and now she was gone； the household seemed to miss
the spirit that peacefully kept it in order； the servants roamed
about in search of commands and directions； the rooms had no longer
the unobtrusive ordering of taste to make them cheerful； the very
fires burned dim； and were always sinking down into dull heaps of
gray ashes。 Altogether Owen did not regret his return to Bangor； and
this also the mortified parent perceived。 Squire Griffiths was a
selfish parent。
Letters in those days were a rare occurrence。 Owen usually received
one during his half…yearly absences from home； and occasionally his
father paid him a visit。 This half…year the boy had no visit； nor
even a letter； till very near the time of his leaving school； and
then he was astounded by the intelligence that his father was married
again。
Then came one of his paroxysms of rage； the more disastrous in its
effects upon his character because it could find no vent in action。
Independently of slight to the memory of the first wife which
children are so apt to fancy such an action implies； Owen had
hitherto considered himself （and with justice） the first object of
his father's life。 They had been so much to each other； and now a
shapeless； but too real something had come between him and his father
there for ever。 He felt as if his permission should have been asked；
as if he should have been consulted。 Certainly he ought to have been
told of the intended event。 So the Squire felt； and hence his
constrained letter which had so much increased the bitterness of
Owen's feelings。
With all this anger； when Owen saw his stepmother； he thought he had
never seen so beautiful a woman for her age； for she was no longer in
the bloom of youth； being a widow when his father married her。 Her
manners； to the Welsh lad； who had seen little of female grace among
the families of the few antiquarians with whom his father visited；
were so fascinating that he watched her with a sort of breathless
admiration。 Her measured grace； her faultless movements； her tones
of voice； sweet； till the ear was sated with their sweetness； made
Owen less angry at his father's marriage。 Yet he felt； more than
ever； that the cloud was between him and his father； that the hasty
letter he had sent in answer to the announcement of his wedding was
not forgotten； although no allusion was ever made to it。 He was no
longer his father's confidanthardly ever his father's companion；
for the newly…married wife was all in all to the Squire； and his son
felt himself almost a cipher； where he had so long been everything。
The lady herself had ever the softest consideration for her stepson；
almost too obtrusive was the attention paid to his wishes； but still
he fancied that the heart had no part in the winning advances。 There
was a watchful glance of the eye that Owen once or twice caught when
she had imagined herself unobserved； and many other nameless little
circumstances； that gave him a strong feeling of want of sincerity in
his stepmother。 Mrs。 Owen brought with her into the family her
little child by her first husband； a boy nearly three years old。 He
was one of those elfish； observant； mocking children； over whose
feelings you seem to have no control： agile and mischievous； his
little practical jokes； at first performed in ignorance of the pain
he gave； but afterward proceeding to a malicious pleasure in
suffering； really seemed to afford some ground to the superstitious
notion of some of the common people that he was a fairy changeling。
Years passed on； and as Owen grew older he became more observant。 He
saw； even in his occasional visits at home （for from school he had
passed on to college）； that a great change had taken place in the
outward manifestations of his father's character； and； by degrees；
Owen traced this change to the influence of his stepmother； so
slight； so imperceptible to the common observer； yet so resistless in
its effects。 Squire Griffiths caught up his wife's humbly advanced
opinions； and； unawares to himself； adopted them as his own； defying
all argument and opposition。 It was the same with her wishes； they
met their fulfilment； from the extreme and delicate art with which
she insinuated them into her husband's mind； as his own。 She
sacrificed the show of authority for the power。 At last； when Owen
perceived some oppressive act in his father's conduct toward his
dependants； or some unaccountable thwarting of his own wishes； he
fancied he saw his stepmother's secret influence thus displayed；
however much she might regret the injustice of his father's actions
in her conversations with him when they were alone。 His father was
fast losing his temperate habits； and frequent intoxication soon took
its usual effect upon the temper。 Yet even here was the spell of his
wife upon him。 Before her he placed a restraint upon his passion；
yet she was perfectly aware of his irritable disposition； and
directed it hither and thither with the same apparent ignorance of
the tendency of her words。
Meanwhile Owen's situation became peculiarly mortifying to a youth
whose early remembrances afforded such a contrast to his present
state。 As a child； he had been elevated to the consequence of a man
before his years gave any mental check to the selfishness which such
conduct was likely to engender； he could remember when his will was
law to the servants and dependants； and his sympathy necessary to his
father： now he was as a cipher in h