ill, taking his hat off the peg in the
blue painted passage.

No one was surprised at that, for both Will and Gethin, ever since
their mother's death, had been accustomed to run to Sara for sympathy
with every pleasure or misfortune, and after being two months away it
was quite natural that he should want to see her; so Morva had scarcely
rounded the bend of the Cribserth before Will had caught her up. A
little shiver ran through her as she recognised the step and the
whistle which called her attention. It was Will, whom she once thought
she had loved so truly, and the coldness which she had felt towards him
of late was strangely mingled with remorse and tender memories as she
turned and walked a few steps back to meet him.

"Stop, Morva; let me speak to thee. Give me thy hand, lass. After so
long a parting thou canst not deny me a kiss too."

Ah, how sweet it was to return to the dear old Welsh, and the homely
"thee" and "thou"!

"Art well, Will? But I need not ask. Indeed, there is life and health
in thy very face."

"Yes, I am well," said Will, drawing her towards him. "I am coming
with thee to see Sara."

"Yes, come," said Morva.

"Art glad to see me, lass?"

"Yes, indeed, I am very glad, whatever. Garthowen will be full again;
it has been very empty lately."

She was thinking of Gethin, unconsciously, perhaps, and hung her head a
little guiltily when Will said:

"Thou didst miss me, then?"

"Of course we all missed thee--thy father especially."

"More than thee, Morva?"

She sighed. "'Tis this way, Will. I am tired of this secrecy. We
grew up like brother and sister. Can't we remain like that? Don't ask
me for more, and then thou canst rise as high as thou pleasest, and I
will be always glad to see thee, and so proud to hear of thy getting
on. Will, it will never do for a clergyman to marry his father's
milkmaid!"

"Twt, twt," said Will, "let us not think of the future, lass--the
present is enough for me; and I promise thee not to allude to our
marriage if thou wilt only meet me like this whenever I come home, and
let me feel thee close to my heart as thou hast to-night."

"But I will not," said the girl suddenly, withdrawing herself from the
arm which he had passed round her waist.

"Why not?" he asked.

"Because," said Morva, "'tis only my promise to marry thee that makes
me meet thee as I do, and deceive them all at Garthowen. Let me tell
them how it is between us, Will."