vered round him
on his return with loving attentions, "look you here now; wasn't a
gentleman in the market looking smarter than our Will to-day! There
was the young son of Mr. Vaughan the lawyer, was dressed like him
exactly--same brown hat, same grey suit, and his boots not shining so
well as Will's! Caton pawb! there's handsome he was! Shouldn't wonder
if he didn't marry a lady some day, with plenty of money!"

"Shouldn't wonder, indeed," said Gethin, clapping him on the back; "and
there's proud he'll be to drive his old father to church with him!"

"Hech! hech! hech!" laughed the old man, sitting down and rubbing his
knees. "Well, indeed, he's a fine boy, whatever!"

"Wasn't Gwilym there?" asked Ann.

"Yes, yes, to be sure, and he is looking very nice always; but I didn't
notice him much today."

Meanwhile, in the town, Will and Gwilym had much to do; there were
books to be got--there was a horse to be looked at for the farm--and,
moreover, Will was to call upon Mr. Price the vicar, so the hours
passed quickly away, until late in the afternoon when the crowd was a
little thinning, the Nantmyny carriage passed through the street,
within it Colonel Vaughan and his niece. Will saw it at once, and
turned away to avoid recognition--for although nothing would have
pleased him more, he was a man of great tact and common sense, and
never spoiled a good chance by indiscreet intrusion. As he turned
away, Colonel Vaughan caught sight of him, and, stopping the carriage,
beckoned to a bystander, who touched his hat with a knobbed stake from
the hedge.

"Isn't that young Owens of Garthowen?"

"Iss, sare," said the man, knocking his hat again.

"Ask him to come here, then."

And Will came, not too hurriedly, and with assumed nonchalance.

"Well, young man," said the colonel, "I want to know how your arm is?"

"It is quite well, thank you," said Will, carefully studying his
accent. "I hope," he added, taking off his hat and turning to Gwenda,
who sat up interested, "I hope you are no longer suffering pain?"

"Very little, thank you. I am so glad your arm is well again, and I am
glad to have this opportunity of thanking you."

And as Will prepared to withdraw again, lifting his hat and showing his
tawny locks and his white teeth, Miss Vaughan placed her hand in his
with a friendly good-bye.

The old colonel winced a little.

"I don't think you need have shaken hands with him, child; however, it
was very nic