s anything to him? For Morva's love he would willingly have
laid down his life; but now that that was denied him, nothing else was
of any consequence; and in troubled thought he sauntered out to cross
the farmyard on his way to Pont-y-fro. The moor beyond the Cribserth
he avoided carefully, and when his work led him along the brow of the
hill, he tried to avert his eyes as well as his thoughts from its
undulating knolls, a background, against which memory would picture a
winsome girl, red-cloaked and blue-kilted.

Will had preceded him about a quarter of an hour, and had found Morva
pensively holding the empty pail before the cow, who had eaten up the
grain, and was licking round in search of more; she did not see him
until he was close upon her, and then she started from her dreams.

"Oh, Will!" she said, and nothing more.

"I wanted to see thee once more, lass, to say good-bye, and to remind
thee of thy promise."

"You will be back before Christmas, Will, and we will be together
again."

"Yes," he answered, "and then we must manage to meet sometimes, for I
find I cannot live without thee. I cannot break away from thee
entirely; but we must be careful, very, very careful. I would not have
anyone suspect our courtship for all the world. Thou wilt keep my
secret, Morva?"

"Yes," she said wearily.

"Come, cheer up, lass, 'twill soon be over. A year or two and I will
have a home for thee--I know I will. And now good-bye, I hear
footsteps. Good-bye, Morva."

He clasped her once to his heart, and whispered a word of endearment in
her ear; but she stood like a statue, and only answered "Good-bye," and
even that he did not hear, for he had already slipped away, and by a
circuitous path reached the house.

Crossing the farmyard, Gethin's approaching footsteps made but little
sound on the soft stubble; and Morva, thinking herself quite alone,
stood leaning just within the doorway, crying softly in the darkness,
for the flaring candle had gone out.

"Who is there?" said Gethin.

There was no answer, Morva checking her sobs, and standing perfectly
still.

"Morva, is it thee crying here by thyself? What is it? Tell me,
child."

"Oh! nothing," said the girl. "Only Will has been here."

"Oh! I see," said Gethin bitterly, "to bid thee fforwel, I suppose.
Well, it won't be for long; he will be back soon, and then thou wilt be
happy, Morva."

"Gethin, thee must promise me one thing."

"And what is that