l inherit all his wealth, and you know how
necessary it is for me to marry a rich man, as I haven't a penny
myself. Of course I will never marry him without your consent, uncle
dear, but then I am going to get it," and she sat on his knee and drew
her soft hands over his bald head, turning his face up like a cherub's,
and pressing her full red lips on his wiry moustache.

"Not a penny yourself! Well! well! we'll see about that. Be good,
girl, and love your old uncle, and I daresay he won't leave you
penniless. But, pommy word! look here, child, we must ask him here to
stay a few days. He won't be bringing old Owens Garthowen here, I
hope; couldn't bear that, you know."

"I am afraid he doesn't see much of his old father and sister," she
said pensively.

"Afraid! I should think you would be delighted."

"No, I should prefer his being manly enough to stick to his own people,
and brave the opinion of the world. _I_ should not be ashamed of the
old man; but, of course, I would never thrust him upon my relations."

"Well! well! you are an odd little puss, and know how to get over your
old uncle, whatever!"

And so all went smoothly for Will. At the end of two years he took his
degree, and another year saw him well through his college course;
complimented by his fellow students, praised and flattered by his
uncle, and loved by as sweet a girl as ever sprang from a Welsh stock.

Before entering upon the curacy which his uncle procured for him with
as little delay as possible, he spent a few days at Garthowen, during
which time he was made the idol of his family. Full of new hopes and
ambitions, he scarcely thought of Morva, who kept out of his way as
much as possible, dreading only the usual request that she would meet
him by the broom bushes; but no such request came, and, if the truth be
told, he never remembered to seek an interview with her, so filled was
his mind with thoughts of Gwenda.

He had been studiously reticent with regard to his engagement to her,
at her special request. She knew how much gossip the news would
occasion, and felt that the less it was talked about beforehand the
less likelihood there would be of her relations being irritated and
annoyed by ill-natured remarks. She was happier than she had ever
hoped to be, and if she sometimes saw in her lover a trait of character
which did not entirely meet the approbation of her honest nature, she
laid the flattering unction to her soul, "Whe