t Brynderyn, and enjoyed the freedom and variet

ad always found the time hang rather heavily. He was wont to relieve the tedium of the evening hour by strolling into the kitchen, sitting in the rush chair, always looked upon as the young master's, and freely entering into the games or gossip of the farm-servants. He was much amused at the enthusiasm and romance of his n

and the acquaintance, begun accidentally,

eighbourhood, which his deft brush had transferred to the pages of his portfolio. He was a true artist, and, moreover, possessed one admirable trait, generally lacking in inferior artists, namely, humility! And as he held up for Cardo

he little round table supporting the portfolio before them, "that cosy, picturesque-looking cottage Nance's! those opal tints over sea and s

Ellis, putting on his

of poetry-of imag

s to me. You are blind, dead to the beauties which surr

s, only I like to tease you. I see all these beauties, old

y in living amongst such picturesque scenes. To me, coming from a flat, un

t put it into words, all I know is, I had rather live here on

ve pounds-worse! If you were not so much bigger and stronger than me I

with his plain, unvarnished remarks, while his eyes and thoughts crossed the valley, and fol

corner. Other maidens wore white frocks and straw hats, but his heart told him that this was no other than Valmai. He could hear her singing as she went, a long wreath of ox-eyed daisies trailing behind her, the gate open and she was gone; but surely here were signs of her recent presence, for

e of a farmer, "and worthy to be Valmai's pet. What a picture for

do broached the subject as they roa

er-er-human beings as well

ut still pretty well.

girl at the confes

what do you say to a pretty

me, Cardo-not Betto, now-you don't mean Betto? though, 'pon my

cture than that. She's a lovely creature! with brown velv

! a f

ears and a little soft nose, the whole su

avens! t

the cow, o

o a cow then,-but what of her mistress? My dear

nk. Well, her mistress is-Valmai!" a

and looked curiously at Cardo, who stood looking over

, who has dropped into a nest of sweet things: earth, sea, and sky combining to form pictures of beauty; picturesque rural life; an interesting and mysterious host; an idyllic cow; a friend who, though unable, or perhaps unwilling, to express his enthusiasm, yet thoroughly feels the poetry of life; and, better than all, I fin

, and his friend conti

e glimmer of her lamp!) high on the breezy cliff, with the pure sea wind blowing around her, the l

Ellis. Your imagination is weaving a picture which is far beside the truth. You have not guessed

'the course of true lov

in time, of course; t

you. I delight in a lov

little entang

otice of her than he does of his cows or his sheep, but who would be quite capable of shutting her up and feeding her on bread a

ne Ellis's only answer, but h

rs, especially Methodists, and most especially of the Methodist preacher. Why, Ellis, they convene public meetings on purpose to pray for each other, and I believe if my father knew that I loved Essec Powell's niec

dear fellow, you have pitched upon the right person. I'll hel

w!" said Cardo, as t

of pleasure softened his white face, but only for an instant, for as the young

ill tell him he ought to b

ext day to find Valmai,

er shore and cliff and

sconsolate through the

t of a red spot in the

e said, turning round; "

tle scarlet pop

he wears it sometimes, and somet

oked at

ck now; it is clos

said Cardo; "we will t

cessful, although they found their way into th

ad straight by the back of the house, and that old ivy-covere

hesi

reachers in the world can frighten me back

y struck by the picturesque beauty of the group before him. Corwen, standing with drooping head, and rather enjoying her extra petting; Shoni, with his brawny limbs and red hair, patting her soft, white flanks, and trying, with cheer

eauty! Cor

y attracted by the scene befor

surprised as he app

and I were roaming about in search of something to paint, and my g

said Shoni sulkil

ble impression upon Shoni. He took him for one of the "walking tramps" who infest

s mistake, and re

and if there is anything here that you would like to paint, I a

but if you go, the pic

of the implied compliment,

o you think your uncle wo

een ill-to-morrow she will be out in the field, and then I will make a daisy chain f

ation and indistinctness common to the dwellers in the counties bordering upon England, and to the "would-be genteel" of too many other parts of Wales, who, perfectly unconscious of the beauty of their own language, and ignorant of its lit

dignantly. "Keep to the English if that is your la

languages means to look at everything from two points of view-from two sides, I mean. A man w

stranger's evident appreciation of his learning, b

herr they arr-these English, you know," he was w

bout the country for?

man; you come to the point at once. W

l th

my own pleasure;

!" sai

is, laughing, and opening his portf

leaving Corwen much dissatisfied

his head to this fellow with the high nose and high vo

said the artist, "at the back of

for some time, with his hands under his coat tails and his red-bearded chin first tur

he place," he said at la

cked out his

o Wylofen,

th a shudder, "wherr you b

hat rushing water, those weird wailings, and the mysterio

far above S

those are ghosts or witches or something that walk in and out there; but anwl! anwl! you must be a witch yourself

lis, "I want to have

d, and me standing by her. I

s gone to ask your

pooh! 'sno need to ask him. You kom to-morrow and

rynde

o scratch his head, "there's a pity now. Essec Powell will nevare

nowhere

rry to say when he heard you were the Vicar's f

no need to ask Essec Powell. The gentleman is ko

he ice between her and Gwynne Ellis; and as Shoni disappeared rou

Ellis; I must

ints to-morrow to Corwen's field. And you-you will

n't promise, but I

honour me by lookin

ceeded down the path to the shore. "What a sweet, sensitive mouth! Oh, C

n of a secret love-affair, had had too much tact to ask Valmai, and was

ending to sulk a little, "yo

until Valmai went indoors to find her uncle. I waited to see if she would come out again, but s

She is an ideal girl. Tell me when you are going to retire, old fellow, and then I will

o si

nd shook hands with me, but said her uncle did no

ourse

gained his consent, and he is

lost in admiration of h

e field and paint Corwen and Valmai has promised

t interest. "She would not promise me.

urls of Corwen's and those expressive brown eyes. Shoni, I know, will stick t

Gwynne Ellis was struck anew by the beauty and freshness of her appearance. She wore a simple white frock, her fair, broad forehead was shaded by a white sun-bonne

they drew near, and, taking Corwen's soft, white ea

Here we are, Mr. Ellis; will we do?" and, holding up her white frock, she made a demure little curtsey to the tw

id, tugging his red forelock; "she iss partly

le Cardo clasped her hand and gazed rapturousl

ai, "to put on her best frock, but no!" and he clicked his tongue ag

I did not think a smart gown w

owy background. With a few deft touches of his brush he had drawn the outlines of his picture, with

I can't do without Shoni. A little

such importance, "and the same brown smot on th

oth to the artist and Shoni; but to Cardo and Valmai, what a golden hour! to stroll away together over the soft grass studded with buttercups, down to the edge of the cliffs, where they sat among the gorze

h, closing his portfolio with a sna

ni, "iss not so much

will finish you

u remember, seven buttons