isten, as
a curious sound as of shaking and thumping was heard by all.

"'Tis upstairs, and in your room, Gwilym," said Ann.

Suddenly there was a jingling sound and rolling as if of money,
followed by a satisfied bark.

"Run up Morva and see," said Ann; "what is that dog doing?"

The girl ran up, passing Tudor on the stairs, who entered the kitchen
with waving tail and glistening eyes carrying in his mouth a canvas bag
from which hung a draggled pink tape, and at the same moment Morva's
voice was heard calling, "Oh, anwl! come up and see!"

Ann and Gwilym hurried up, followed by Ebben Owens and Will, to find
Morva pointing to the floor which was strewn with pieces of gold.

"My sovereigns!" said Gwilym, "no doubt! and Tudor has emptied the bag.
Where could they have come from?" and everyone looked through the open
window down the lane to where in the clear frosty air the blue smoke
curled from a little brown thatched chimney.

Ebben Owens jerked his thumb towards the cottage.

"There's no need to ask that," he said. "'Twould be easy to stand on
the garden wall and throw it in through the window."

Ann was busily counting the sovereigns which had rolled into all sorts
of difficult corners.

"Thirty-eight, thirty-nine, forty!"

"Every one right," said Gwilym; "how fortunate! but how I should like
to tell Gryffy Lewis I forgive him, and that he has done right in
returning the money."

"I expect fear as well as a guilty conscience made him return them, the
blackguard!" suggested Will.

"No doubt; no doubt," said the old man.

As for Morva, she was so overcome with joy at this proof of Gethin's
innocence that she was scarcely able to hide her agitation from those
around her.

When all the money had been gathered into Ann's apron they returned to
their dinner to find Tudor occupying the mishteer's chair, with a
decided expression of satisfaction on his face, the canvas bag lying
beside him.

"Well," said Ebben Owens, ousting Tudor unceremoniously from his seat,
and speaking in an agitated and tremulous voice, "one thing has been
made plain, whatever, and that is that poor Gethin had nothing to do
with the money. You all see that, don't you?"

"Well I suppose he hadn't," said Will; "but why then did he go away so
suddenly? That, I suppose, must remain a mystery until he chooses to
turn up again."

"Yes, it is strange," said his father, with a deep sigh.

"Well, thank God!" said Gwilym; "'tis plain