or the first service drew near, the roads and lanes were t

illness made it impossible for the inmates to leave their beds. Everybody-man, woman, and child, including ba

wilderness of stunted heath and patches of burnt grass, studded with harebells, and this unapportioned piece of ground stretched away into the adjoining corner of the Vicar's long meadow. In the afternoo

ial wink, "on your own hedge; the Vicar can't be ang

orous voice delivered a short opening prayer, followed by an impassioned address. In the clear, pure air every word was distinctly heard all over the field, the surging multitude keeping a breathless s

of every Welshman's heart, its strange reminiscences, its mysterious influences swaying his whole being, and carrying him away on the wings of its rising and falling melody. His fathers and grandfathers sang it in th

was. He saw Essec Powell with clasped fingers and upturned chin listening in rapt attention; he saw in the rows nearest the platform many of the wives and daughters of its occupants. Here surely would be the place for the minister's niece; but no! Valmai was nowhere to be seen. In truth, she had been completely forgotten by her uncle, who had wandered off with a knot of preachers after the hospitable dinner, provided for them at his house by

te figure which slipped backwards and forwards behind them, supplying every want with quick and delicate intuitio

cher caught sight of the girl, and without ceremony open

s this fai

rised. "Oh! that's my niece Valmai; she is li

ill be coming to the

ave been there all day;

xpectedly. "Young people are apt to think most of the singing," here he re-captured the wing and landed it safely on his own plate. "Did you hear my sermon?" he asked, between the m

ed, and turned their faces once

e preachers to the hillside. As she went she recalled the last open-air meeting she had attended, nearly two years ago, in that far-off land, where her father and mother had walked with her in loving companionship, when she had been the centre of their joys and the light of their home, and as she followed the winding path, hymn-book in hand, her heart went back

go alone. What can I expect when my father and mot

ing there was no settled place for her, kept on the outskirts of the crowd, and at last found herself on the piece of uncultivated ground which bordered the corner of the Vicar's lon

gs. She was soon listening with deep interest to the eloquent and burning words which fell from the lips of the preacher; and with the harebells nodding at her, the golden

d made his way towards her. She was absently turning over the leaves of her little Welsh hymn-book as he approached, and smiling unconsciously at a toddling child who was making journeys of discovery around the furze bushes. A quick, short "Oh!" escaped her as she saw him approach,

ou been?" he

she whisp

hoped you w

nd at her reprovingly. Cardo attempted another rema

pleasure of sitting beside her until the long sermon was over, and the crowd ro

key?" "Oh! telling!" And amongst the murmer of approval and enthusiasm Valmai an

" and she fell in with the suggestion, turning her fa

into the air, and the waves came bounding and racing up the yellow sand like children at play; the little sea-crows cawed noisily as they

nly six weeks I have been here and yet I seem to have known it for ever-I suppose because from a baby I u

that. I don't think I could ever b

," said Valmai, "n

s-that he should go to Australia and visit an uncle who had for many years lived there. The prospect of a voyage to the Antipodes had never been very attractive to Cardo, and latterly the idea had faded from his mind. In the glamo

way?" she said,

ndered if she would be sorry, and was tempte

he idea, but now I perfectly dread it. And you," he added, "should you miss

n where the blue of the sky joined the blue of the

sorry when you go, and where are you g

lia," repl

you will never come b

, Miss Powell-you laug

ai,

is calling me Valmai,

then; and will y

-even the little children in the village; I have heard them say, 'Here is

long the beach? Remember, I,

hurry home and get the

to the meeting

ng is in the c

r you will come bac

," she said, as she began her w

ooked gloomy and dark, the bright afternoon sun, shining through the creepers which obsc

Cardo; where h

on the beach; it is a glorious afternoon. Oh! father, I wish you would come out and breathe the

ideas of what is fit and proper, and I should not think it either to be c

, Price Merthyr I think

ation on the subject I will ask for it; I want you to set

c y

Parc y

hind his stern manner-a sentiment which must have been revealed to him by intuition, for he had never seen any outward sign of it. "It's no use," he muttered,

hed a faint light over his face. Valmai listened with folded hands as he spoke of the narrow way so difficult to tread, so wearisome to follow-of the few who walked in it and the people, listening with upturned faces and bated breath, answered to his appeal with sighs and groans and "amens." He then passed on

round her with

t thronging crowd who were hurrying on to their own dest

ver her. She would not believe it-outside was the fresh night wind, outside was the silver moonlight, and in the words of the poet of whom she had never heard she said within herself, "No! God is in Heaven, it's all right with the world!" Her joyous nature could not brook the saddening influences of the Methodist creed, and as she passed

you come home by the shore?" she wondered whether he was anywhere near! As she reached the bottom of the cliff and trod on the firm,

ater. They glided from the darkness across that path of light

e is Cardo Wynne!" and with a spirit of mischief gleaming in her eyes and dimpling

Valmai's fun suddenly deserted her. What should she do next? should she touch him? No! Should she speak to him? Yes; but what should she say? Cardo!

Wyn

ned round

upon me! I was dreaming. Come and stand here. Is not

heart, "it is beautiful! I saw the sky through the chapel window, and I was t

across the beach, at

one of his old Welsh poets-Taliesin, or Davydd ap Gwilym, or somebody. It

said

es from o

ry flock among the

Indeed, I am glad you find something in

But how do you know? They may be gold and leather, and

hem, and have seen

ading them?

shes, and saw you reading to your un

was s

vexed with

his way to Dinas! He had thought it worth while to stand under the night sky

mai, have I o

foolish of you, whatever. If you had come in and listened to

ld your uncle have said? He

body who comes in to supper; but I don't think," she added, with a more serious air,

otry is. My father hates the cha

ther soon," said Valmai, as they reached the

is she stepped carefully over the broad stream, subsiding into quietness as it reached the sea. At last

hate ea

again Cardo looked down at Va

lden head exposed to the cool night breezes. It droope

said, with her qu

and all uncharitableness to our elders; for you and me, down here on the sands an

me in my old home, and I did not think I should ever have another

o short. You must come back a

, laughing so merrily that she

and across the shore, and then back agai

tender. It seemed ridiculous, b