e little fishing-boats flitted about the bay like white-winged butterflies. On the yellow sands the waves splashed lazily; up on the cliffs the sea crows ca

in the evening, fast gaining strength and health, and bid

all; but he was one of those to whom idleness was intolerable. True! he could lie on the sands with his hat over his face for an hour sometimes, listening to the plashing waves and the call of the sea-birds; he could sail in his boat on the bay for many a sunny afternoon, the sails flapping idly in the breeze, while he with folded hands leant against the mast, lost in thou

e days," said Ebben, "works when he likes, and i

ush, with his strong shoulders and brawny arms could use the scythe as well as any of the men. The Vicar paid occasional visits to the hayfields, and Betto was busy fro

aid Ebben, drying his heated

rgot it was hay harvest, until Valmai pulled him

," said Ebben, "Mr. El

? Sple

at will the Vicare say? Jar

he was learning like Cardo that if there was to be peace at Bryndery

akers, who had afterwards trooped into the farm-yard, where, under the pale evening sky, with the sunset glow behind them, and

home-cured bacon, and mashed up cabbages. Last of all came the hunches of solid rice pudding, washed down by "blues

and evidently affording them much amusement. The Vicar looked at them through h

mon to most Welshwomen, and Cardo sharing also in the national gift, their voices frequently blended together in song, and the sylvan valley often echoed t

nks my love hat

suckle swept her cheek, and as the sunset faded and the c

little of you

ntimes has Gwen called me and I have been absent, and even my uncle asked me yesterday, 'Wh

"that no one seems to come here b

was scarcely any path here till I came, th

e other side of the stream. And now the dear little dell is haunted by a sweet

she drew the petals one by one. "Loves me not," she said, as she

rt is not wholly and entirely yours, then such a thing as love never existed.

r will I say the sa

I love to

d, shaking her finger at him playfully, said, "No, no, one kiss is enough in a week, whatever-indeed, indeed, you shan't have more," and she eluded his grasp by slippin

begin to think you are after all a fairy or a wo

n her brow. "Oh, if you begin to call me names, I must come back; but you must be

es and things," said Cardo,

ll-garnered hayricks, these two walked and sang in the mazes of the greenwood, the soft evening sky above

grew stronger and stronger; and that to Valmai, as they parted on the shore, all of earthly delight seemed bound up in Cardo; and to him,

earing to change his mind, after a curt good-night, he walked away through the long stone passage with his usual firm step. He was so regular and fixed in his h

alled, "I want

shment at Gwynne Ellis as he rose from the

g back with a yawn and a stretch. "I have been

he opened it wide for his son's entrance, and closed it carefully

ht your cand

ne wil

nd matches, and drew down the blinds, his father

ou which I have been wanting to say for some t

countenance; the marble face seemed whiter than usual, the deep sha

t last pitying the old man's eviden

which disclosed a row of large and rather yellow

forgot

am glad to see you have thoroughly appreciated. I should have been annoyed, had it been otherwise, considering that it was not without some change of my usual domestic ways that I was able to arrange this little matter for

on the farm, and if I have appeared d

ts; but I am quite aware that your life is uneventful and dull, and I think a young man of your er-er-" (he was going to say

sir, and few farmers can afford

or farmers; but knowing that you have a 100 pounds a year of your own, Cardo, which, by the by, you never spend much of, and which I am g

avel, so do not trouble your head about

ing fingers, and when he next spoke there was a little sh

o accede to my proposals. When a young man is contented and happy, it is

he mantelpiece. "Why do you keep me at arm's length? Why do you not tell me plainly what I can do for you, father? Ther

t I am about to ask you, I

her man; but Cardo detected a tremor in the voice and an

u want me t

I want you to g

Cardo. "In heaven's

n expenses, I will help you In fact-er-er-I will place funds at your disposal which shall enable you to trave

though at long intervals, hinted at this idea-but at the unusual coolness with which he had alluded to such a lavish expendit

e, and placing both hands on his kn

the story of my life, and then you shall tel

thing of his father's early life; he had always rebelled against the cold barr

ight be appointed to a curacy which would take me away from my old home, and I was greatly relieved when I was appointed to this living through the influence of an old friend of my father's. When I entered upon my new duties, I found the old church filled with a hearty and friendly congregation; but soon afterwards that Methodist Chapel was built on the moor, and that rascal Essec Powell became its minister, and from that day to this he has been a thorn in the flesh to me. My father died about a year after I was ordained, and I found the old house rather lonely with

reathlessly, "I have thirsted

loved your mother with a frantic

o st

nd lively disposition. I might have added that I was sensitive and suspicious to an intense degree, and from my first acquaintanc

stood on the table, and, having dr

ainted with my suspicious nature, he was not offended, but laughed me out of my doubts for the time-for the time," he repeated, again fixing his eyes on the spot on the carpet. "Bear in mind, Cardo, through every word of this history, that the suspicion and mistrust of my nature amounted almost to insanity. I see it now, and, thank God, have conquered it in some measure. Well, we were married. Lewis was my groomsman, and Ellen Vaughan was the bridesmaid. It was a very quiet wedding, as Mrs. Vaughan was in very bad health-in fact, she died soon a

upted Cardo; "tell me someth

anish look in her eyes-you have the same, I think, Card

sh temper, sir? quic

ons, and here in the midst of my newly-found happiness, with hope and love shedding their beams around me, I allowed the first insidious entrance of the serpent of distrust and jealousy of my wife into my heart. My brother Lewis was very unlike me in appearance and disposition, being of a fra

e would have lightened his burden had he sooner confided in his son. The conduct which seemed so black and stained, whe

idea, every moment of my life was poisoned by it. I kept a close but secret watch upon their actions, and soon saw what I considered a certain proof that the love they felt for each other was more than, and different to, that which the relationship of brother and sister-in-law warranted. Betto noticed it, t

d waiting for some excuse f

tered manner had made a corresponding change in hers. The proud spirit within her was roused, and instead of endeavouring to soothe my suspicions, and show me my mistake, she went on her way apparently unheeding, holding her head high, and letting me form my own opinion of her actions. I ought to have told you that her uncle had been so annoyed at her marriage with me that he had forbidden her to enter his doors again; and of this I was not sorry, though it roused my anger so much that I added my injunctions to the effect that if she wished to please me she would break off all acquaintance with her cousin, Ellen Vaughan. This, however, she would not promise to do, and it was the first beginning of the rift, which afterwards widened into a chasm between us. Her cousin also was too much attached to her to be easily alienated from her, and the two girls met more frequently than either her uncle or I were aw

y heart was breaking with distrust of my wife, and hatred of my brother; but I never spoke of my

I followed the path on the left side of the Berwen, and as I neared the bridge which crosses the valley on the top, I suddenly came upon Agnes, who was sitting on a boulder by the side of the brook, and as I ap

from Cardo in

-it will pain me as long as I have any being. I may

re you not straying

,' she answered; 'i

d. 'Last evening when I asked you to come down

I was feeling very il

tle, and she looked rou

weydd, or I would walk back with you;

' she said, as she be

rw

the valley. It was Ellen Vaughan, and no doubt Agnes had been waiting for her; but when in returning I met my brother Lewis coming over the same stile into the high road, my whole soul

he had worn in my presence latterly; he reached a book from the bookshelf, and sauntered in through the stone passage into the west parlour. In a moment I had risen and followed him, and, walking carefully on the

now felt convinced that my doubts were warranted; but I was determined to control my feelings and restrain any expression of anger until after the birth of her child, which was fa

stream of worshippers leaving the porch, I saw her joined by Lewis, who walked with her towards the lych gate, and before I reached them I distinctly saw

t with his elbow on the table. Unconsciously the Vicar seemed to take the position of a prisoner before

t speak a word of complaint or anger. Had I done so, I might have been sp

as coldly. And thus passed away our only chance of explanation and reconciliation. You are silent,

hing but pity for you and pity fo

entirely out of my life. I tried to ignore her presence, to forget that she had ever been dear to me; but I give you my word, Cardo, I never spoke a harsh or accusing word to her. I simply dropped her as far as possible out of my lif

ew would have believed me capable of. Have I made this plain to you, Cardo? At last one evening, just at this time of the year, and at this hour of the day, Betto brought you to me in her arms. She had tears on her face, and as she looked down at her

girl, whose face I recognised at once as that of Essec Powell's sister. I felt great indignation at the sight, as Agnes knew my intense dislike to the Methodist pr

troubled face, implored me not to give way to angry feelings. 'Be gentle to her,' she said; 'poor thing, she's as

e closed, as she had not heard my careful footsteps. I looked at her intently, while all sorts of thoughts and longings passed through m

en cold to me?' she asked, while her hand still lay in mine. 'If I have ever done anything to displease you, will you not forgive me, and kiss your little child?' and she looked down at your little head lying on

ive you,

t all?'

o her forehead, and turning her head on her pillo

he died suddenly. Swiftly the Angel of Death came, at her call. I believe it, Caradoc, for Dr.

sometimes the powers of life fail, and the patient dies. Why she did not wish to live I do not know-perhaps

ed him, and Cardo, rising and approaching him, drew his hand gently over his black h

hands he gulped down a

nd God forgive me, if I thought too with longing of the cool sandy reaches that lay under the rippling waters of the bay! On the brow of the hill I met Essec Powell, who was out early to see a si

, where she was indulged and petted, and in a year's time you have broken her spirit, and you will break her heart. Because her brute of an uncle forbids his own daughter to go near her-my sister, her

to control my fury, but I did do so, and I turned away without answering him, except by a cold, haughty look. I hated him, Caradoc, and I have hated him e

was one of Colonel Vaughan's servants. I wondered what brought him there so early, but wen

face, I asked her what had brought Co

was in great distress-if you call tearing about and swearing being in great distress-that was what

that in the turmoil of the night before, with the hurried footsteps and the arrival of the doctor's gig, my brother had not been disturbed, and he was apparently sti

st to persuade me to eat the dinner which she had prepared She

o his room, and I see he has not slept there last night,' and she flung her apron over her head, and swayed backwards and forwards crying 'Oh, a

you find t

r she died. Mr. Lewis had s

ther do I now-and read the words which began the awakening tha

pest thanks for all your kindness to me and dear Nellie. Without your help we should neve

rateful and d

NE and ELLE

permost in my mind being 'too late! too late! gone for ever, my belov

Betto, drawing another

s's table. I think i

their innocent ignorance of my suspicions. They spoke of a love whose existence I had not guessed; of his devotion to Ellen Vaughan, my wife's cou

that I have eaten? I can scarcely believe it, and yet I fear it is true. Enclosed I leave you a cheque which will pay for anything I may have cost you; further than that I c

Ellen and I will hav

aer Madoc, and shall,

you know I have l

is she lying dead a

el! still enough and wh

sir,

beloved, innocent brother-was deeply in love with her cousin, Ellen Vaughan, and she, in the tenderness of her heart, helped to bring about their union, and was the

friendship of the brother who had been so much to me for so many years. I wrote to him, Caradoc-a humble, penitent letter, beseeching his forgiveness even as a man begs for his life. He has never answered my

him. I would send the best of earthly treasure that I possess-my only son-to plead for m

ardo, rising and placing

told you and still retain a little

ost. Thank you for telling me all this, it explains so much that has puzzled me-it accounts for your sadness and gloom-and-a

u, my boy, an

ft his father sitting by the flickering c

ntaining a little

ar swe

ear! what