l this, he found himself, as the term drew near its close,
looking forward with pleasure to the old home ways, and the old home
friends, and when he climbed into the jingling car beside his father,
in the yard of the hotel, not even the rough country shabbiness of the
equipage could altogether spoil the pleasant anticipations of a first
vacation at home, although, it must be confessed, that as he drove out
of the town, he earnestly hoped he would escape the observation of his
fellow collegians.

Ebben Owens's happiness should now have been complete, for he had his
much-loved son at home at his own hearth; but a shadow seemed to have
fallen on the old man's life, a haunting sadness which nothing seemed
to dispel. Ann rallied him upon it playfully, and he would laughingly
promise to reform.

"Will at home and all," she said, "and everything going on so
well--except, of course, 'tis dreadful about Gethin; but we have been
used to his absence, father; and you never seemed to grieve about him."

"No, no," said her father, "I have never grieved about him much, but
lately I had got so fond of him; he was so kind to me, so merry he was,
and so handsome, and always ready to help!" and again he would relapse
into silence.

On market day he was very anxious to drive Will into Castell On.

"Come on, 'machgen i; I will give you a new waistcoat. Come and show
yourself to Mr. Price and to all the young ladies. Be bound, if they
were to see you in your cap and gown, not the highest among them but
would be proud to shake hands with you!"

But Will declined the offer. Later in the day, however, he walked in
alone, and only that sad angel, who surely records the bitter wounds
inflicted by children upon the tender parent hearts, knew how sharp a
stab entered the old man's soul; but next day he had "got over it," as
the phrase is.

With a slow, dragging step Morva walked home on the evening of Will's
arrival. He had nodded at her in a nonchalant manner, with a kindly,
"Well, Morva!" in passing, just as he had done to Magw and Shan, but
further than that had not spoken to her again, though his eyes followed
her everywhere as she moved about her household duties.

"Prettier than ever!" he thought. "My word! there is not one of the
Llaniago young ladies fit to tie her shoe!"

As soon as the cows were milked and the short frosty day had ended, the
moon rose clear and bright over the Cribserth.

"I am going to see Sara," said W