at plain
which stretches out like an amphitheatre, in the half-circle of hills
formed by the ranges of Moel Gwynn and the Tre-Madoc Rocks were all
golden-green in the mellow light of sunset. To Eleanor it might have
been black with winter frost, she never noticed outward thing till she
reached The End of Time; and there, in the little farm-yard, she was
brought to a sense of her present hour and errand by seeing Edward. He
was examining some hay, newly stacked; the air was scented by its
fragrance, and by the lingering sweetness of the breath of the cows.
When Edward turned round at the footstep and saw Eleanor, he colored and
looked confused; however, he came forward to meet her in a cordial
manner enough.

"It's a fine evening," said he. "How is Nest? But, indeed, you're being
here is a sign she is better. Won't you come in and sit down?" He spoke
hurriedly, as if affecting a welcome which he did not feel.

"Thank you. I'll just take this milking-stool and sit down here. The
open air is like balm after being shut up so long."

"It is a long time," he replied, "more than five months."

Mrs. Gwynn was trembling at heart. She felt an anger which she did not
wish to show; for, if by any manifestations of temper or resentment she
lessened or broke the waning thread of attachment which bound him to her
daughter, she felt she should never forgive herself. She kept inwardly
saying, "Patience, patience! he may be true and love her yet;" but her
indignant convictions gave her words the lie.

"It's a long time, Edward Williams, since you've been near us to ask
after Nest;" said she. "She may be better, or she may be worse, for
aught you know." She looked up at him, reproachfully, but spoke in a
gentle quiet tone.

"I--you see the hay has been a long piece of work. The weather has been
fractious--and a master's eye is needed. Besides," said he, as if he had
found the reason for which he sought to account for his absence, "I have
heard of her from Rowland Jones. I was at the surgery for some
horse-medicine--he told me about her:" and a shade came over his face,
as he remembered what the doctor had said. Did he think that shade would
escape the mother's eye?

"You saw Rowland Jones! Oh, man-alive, tell me what he said of my girl!
He'll say nothing to me, but just hems and haws the more I pray him. But
you will tell me. You _must_ tell me." She stood up and spoke in a tone
of command, which his feeling of independence, weake