, for I crave your love, and can never be happy without it."

There was no answer on Gwenda's lips, but the eyes, which were bent on
her work, grew humid with feeling.

"I love you, but dare I have the presumption to hope that you return my
love? You know me here as my uncle's nephew, but it is not in that
character that I would wish you to think of me now."

What was it in the girl's pure and honest face which seemed to bring
out Will's better nature?

"I am only William Owens" (he even added the plebeian "s" to his name)
"the son of the old farmer Ebben Owens of Garthowen; 'tis true my uncle
calls me his son, and promises that I shall inherit his wealth, but
there is no legal certainty of that. He might die to-morrow, and I
should only be William Owens, the poor student of Llaniago College, and
yet I venture to tell you of my love. I think I must be mad! I seek
in vain for any possible reason why you should accept my love, and I
can find none."

"Only the best of all reasons," said Gwenda, almost in a whisper.

"Gwenda! what is that?" said Will, rising to his feet, an action which
the girl followed before she answered.

"Only because I love you too."

"Gwenda!" said Will again.

They had been resting on the velvet lawn that reached down to the oak
wood, and now they turned towards its shady glades, and Mrs. Trevor,
who had been watching them with deep interest, was obliged to control
her curiosity until, when an hour later, they entered the house
together, Will looking flushed and triumphant, and Gwenda with a glow
of happiness which told its own tale to her observant friend.

"It's all right, my love, I see it is! I needn't ask any questions, he
who runs may read! You have accepted him?"

"I don't know what my uncle will say, it all depends upon that."

"Never mind what he says, my dear. You and I together will manage him,
we'll make him say just what we please, so _that's_ settled!"

In fact, Will's wooing seemed to belie the usual course of true love.
Upon it as upon everything else connected with him, the fates seemed to
smile, and Colonel Vaughan was soon won over by Gwenda's persuasions.

"Well! pommy word, you know, Gwenda, I like the young fellow myself.
Somehow or other he has taken us by storm. Of course, I should have
been better pleased if he were Dr. Owen's son instead of his nephew."

"Well, he is next thing to it, uncle," said the girl coaxingly. "He is
his adopted son, and wil