the brooms, his voice changed,
the brusque sailor manner softened.

"'Tis not for a girl like thee to be carrying a heavy weight on thy
shoulders," he said gently. "Come, loosen thy cords."

But Morva held them tightly.

"Not for the world," she said. "It is quite right I should carry my
wares to market, but I would not like to see a son of Garthowen with a
bundle of brooms on his shoulders."

"I will have them," he said; "come, loosen the cords," and he laid hold
of one of the hands which held the rope.

A warm glow overspread Morva's face, as the large brown hand covered
hers in its firm grasp.

"No, I will do this to please thee," she said, and loosening her hold
of the bundle, she flung it suddenly into an empty red cart which was
rattling by. "Take care of them, Shemi, thou know'st my corner in the
market."

"Yes, yes," said Shemi, "they will be all right."

And Morva stood up in the sunshine freed from her burden.

Will seemed to think it the right time to join them, and suddenly
appearing, greeted the girl, but rather coldly, and the three walked on
together, Gethin much resenting Will's bad temper, and endeavouring to
make up for his brother's somewhat silent and pre-occupied manner by
keeping up the conversation himself. But a little constraint fell upon
them all, Gethin chafing at the girl's apparent nervousness, and his
brother's silence; Morva fearful of offending Will, and disturbed at
her own pleasure at meeting Gethin. When they reached the town she
bade them good-bye.

"Here's my corner," she said, "and when I have sold my brooms, I am
going home in the cart from the mill at Pont-y-fro."

Will seemed relieved at this solving of his difficulties, but Gethin
was not so satisfied; he roamed the market discontentedly, filling his
pockets with sweets and gingerbread. Many times that day he peered
through the crowd into the corner out of the sun, where Morva's purple
blooms made a grand show. At last he ventured nearer, and laying his
sweets and gingerbreads down beside her, said:

"Thee'll be hungry by and by, Morva; wilt have these?"

The girl's eyes drooped, and she scarcely answered, but the smile and
the blush with which she took up the paper bags were quite enough for
Gethin, who went home early, with that smile and blush gilding every
thought and every subject of conversation with his companions of the
road.

In the afternoon Morva, having sold her brooms, prepared to leave the