s, with its sweet, long days of sunshine, and its soft, west winds brine-lade

usic as it hastened down to the sea; but there was a sadder look on both their faces. Cardo had new lines about his mou

ook, "something worse even than this terrible parting, which must come next month. What is it, Cardo? What is hangin

ars and depressing thoughts? It is that only which dims the sunshine to me, and makes me feel as if I were losing all the light and happiness out of my life; but let us cast our fears to the wind, Valmai, for a

presence will be more e

ows, perhaps bringing that brother with me in person, then, Valmai, while his heart is softened and tender, I will tell him of our love, I will ask his consent to our marriage, and if he refuses, then we must take our own way and be married without his consent. There is the thatch house just above the

hat glistening sea will be tossing and frothing under the fierce north-west wind. Oh, I know how it looks in the winter; and

ful life. Will you give me up; will you break the bond

ained tone, as she placed her hand

rrible parting. I could bear it far more easily if you were mine, my very own, my wife, Valmai. Then I should feel that nothing could really p

Oh, Cardo, another dream. No, no; wait until yo

d Cardo, "you w

must go; I am late. Shoni begins to ask me suspiciously, 'Wherr you going again, Val

hair and gaitered legs dogging o

sweet valley belo

possession, it will be so guarded that n

nce to be married before he left the country, and as he and Gwynne El

he said, as he watched the bulging sail an

"I am sorry my holida

should leave, althoug

r me; everything jolly comes

id Cardo,

to see the world in-and a devoted father (for he is that, Cardo, in spite of his cold ways) waiting to greet you when you come back. And Valmai Powell following every step you take with her loving and longing thoughts. No, no, Cardo; you have nothing to pull such a long face about. On the contrary, as I have said before, you are a lucky dog." (Cardo grunted.)

lessen the bitterness of parting from Valmai. It is my own wish to go, and nothing

he indistinct grey blur was beginning to tak

Ellis, shifting

were marrie

to a climax. My dear fellow, it would be far harder to part from a wife of a w

should be satisfied to be married even on the morning of my departure. Come, Ellis, be my friend in this matter. You promised when I first told you of my love for Valmai that you would help us out of our difficulties. You are

sinking down in the prow of the boat

he question, but if she

, you talk as if it we

d! Where are

buy a l

the r

d Cardo began to lo

about the

f that. Are not your t

ng to Aberset

y will be delighted with such a romantic little affair. But, Cardo, ho

r the reverse when you make Valmai my wife? Is she not all

. I'll allow you at once she is perfect in mind, body, and soul-and

ng energetically to lower the sails

the beach, both buried in their own thoug

at the old church on the

," said

rdo had won from Valmai a frigh

ured suddenly into a woman of calm and reflective

rage and sustain her-to call her wife! and to entrust his happiness to her. Yes, she would marry him; she would be true to him-neither life nor death should shake her constancy-no power should draw from her lips the sweet secret of their marriage, for Cardo had said, "It must be a secret between us, love, until I return and tell

ver the shining waters of the bay he saw that on the horizon gray streaky clouds were rising, and sp

r," he thought, "and

pt herself-that Essec Powell or Shoni might have discovered her intentions and prevented their fulfilment; perhaps even she might be shut up in one of the rooms in that gaunt, grey house! Nothing was too unreasonable or unlikely for his fears, and as he approa

should come by the high road from Abersethin, and down by the river-path to the church. They were not to stand outside, but to ent

d fellows from Abersethin have forgotten all

would be no wedding, and that he would have to depart at midday s

n the door of the church, in the cool green light

d, turning back to look up the winding

ree can sit in that ricketty front pew, or range yourselves at the altar rail,

ld friends all crowded into her mind; but the memory of them only seemed to accentuate their absence at this important time of her life! She almost failed as she walked up with faltering step, but a glance at Cardo's sympathetic, beaming face restored her courage, and as she took her place by his side she regained he

e white hat which had been her best during the summer, adorned only with a wreath of freshly gathered jessamine, a bunch of which was also fastened at her neck. With the add

der," said Ellis. "Take you

beside him. When they reached the vestry, whose outer wall in the old tower was lying crumbling on the grass outside, while the two yo

is kept in the new church! Is it absolutely neces

ron chest inside the altar rails. There is another there, going back to the las

," said Cardo. "I had never thou

of these musty pages. It won't be at all en règle to insert your marriage here; but I dare not bring the new re

t in bold, black characters, under the faded old writing on the

an't untie with your teeth! Here is your marriage certif

hich startled them all, and Cardo grasped Valmai

o take her flight through the broken wall. "There Cardo," said Valmai, "I said the white owl would be a

ester, and I will leave you both, as I kno

e three young men left the old church, leaving Ca

they sat down together. Cardo trying to keep up a cheerful de

e said. "How did you manage to escap

id, with a little wan smile. Already the glamour of the wedding was giving way to the sorr

spection, the minutes were fleeting rapidly by, he had to return to his brea

ryn?" she asked, her voice gro

ready gone with my luggage. Valmai, how can I part

She buried her face in her hands, and

them away

ng and happiness and joy. Think, Valmai, only a year, and I shall come and claim you for my own! Confess, dearest, that it

I must not wear on my finger; but see, I have brought a white satin ribbon to tie it round

our secret until

, "until you come back, Cardo,

nwylyd; my father

I will not k

brace, during which the white o

, darling, and farewel

Cardo. Good-bye,

nge tumult. Slowly she made her way up the path to Dinas, the scarlet cloak was taken out from the bush under which it had been hidden, and, enveloped in its folds, she entered the house. Going up to her own room, she took o

father had many last directions to give him

your clean handkerchiefs are in the leather portmanteau;

s at Abersethin, and after breakfast returned to Bryndery

nk I envy that Wynne in spite of the parti

to be found in this out-of-

doubt if you will find one anywhere," for

t we have taken in this roman

r!" he

be a dead secret," said E

onour

only carriage the Vicar affected, and when Betto had bid him a tearful good-bye, with all the far

reat pleasure to meeting you again when you return from Australi

softened tone, "it would be too trying

tle bridge over the Berwen Valley, the Vicar, pointing with hi

met my brother afterwards, and oh! how blinded I was! But there, a man who is carried away by his

Valmai was so intimately connected with it; and as he crossed the bridge, he ca

iced there was a stile

st look at it and the bridge, and-was it fanc

idea of running back to see, but "Jim" was fresh, an

id the Vicar. "W

back and take a last look at the valley; but neve

g, I think," s

we shall catch it on the Burrawalla, I expect. W

ate confession, although it had comforted and soothed him, was yet a mystery to himself, and he thought of it with a kind of awkward surprise and something like resentment. He was, however, unusually

m for ever? And how willingly he had given in to his father's wishes! But, certainly th

with a side jerk of his head. "A f

tea, they vied with each other in

had shrunk back until they had passed, and then standing on the hedge, had waved a last good-bye, and immediately afterwards slipped down in an abandonment of grief. She remained for some time sobbing and moaning on the grass, until at last her passion of tears subsided. Almost suddenly growing calmer, she stood up, and, not attempting to dry

sky which showed here and there between the storm rifts, then she quietly put on her hat and returned

over the lamp was lighted and the red curtains drawn. Up here on the cliffs the wind was already blowing f

ed himself in his usual position, with legs crossed, head thrown back, listening with evident pleasure

eking, uncle; it is like

Well, it does blow a little, but it's nothing. Go on, Valmai, you are not reading so good as usual