of sense, though his pure
and unblemished life had caused him to be chosen deacon.

"Well," said Jos again, as he reached his own shop door, "I always knew
Garthowen's pride would come down some day; but I never, never thought
he was such a fool!"

CHAPTER XX

LOVE'S PILGRIMAGE

It was nearly midnight, and still Sara and Morva sat over the fire in
earnest conversation. The March wind roared in the chimney, the sound
of the sea came up the valley. Outside, under the night sky, the furze
and broom bushes waved and bowed to each other, and in the sheltered
cwrt the daffodils under the hedge nodded and swayed in the wind; but
the two women inside the cottage were too much engrossed in their
conversation, and with their thoughts, to notice the wildness of the
night. Often they sat in silence, broken by occasional words of sorrow.

"Oh, poor 'n'wncwl Ebben! No wonder he was sitting thinking and
thinking in the chimney-corner!"

"No, no wonder indeed, och i! och i! But now he has done the best
thing for his own peace of mind."

"Peace of mind!" said Morva. "I am afraid he will never have that,
mother. He said when we were walking home together that he wished he
could die; and I'm afraid he will before long. He is breaking his
heart for his two sons."

Sara did not answer; she was gazing at the glowing fire, whose flames
and sparks chased each other up the chimney. At last she straightened
herself.

"Garthowen shall not die while I can help him, Morva," she said. "I
have seen all this coming, 'merch i, and I know now what my dreams have
meant lately. _They_ are calling me, Morva; _they_ have been calling
me since the turn of the year, and I have closed my ears. But
now"--and she stood up, though still leaning on her stick--"but now I
must go."

Morva looked at her in astonishment, for the aged form seemed to grow
young again with the strength of purpose within it. The gentle face
appeared to lose the wrinkles of age. In the fitful light of the fire,
it took again the lines of beauty and youth which had once belonged to
it.

"Thou must not be surprised, child," she added, "if some evening when
thou com'st home from the farm thou shalt find the house empty. The
key will be on the lintel, and thou must come in and wait in patience
till I return. I thought there was nothing more for me to do, but I
see it now," and with her stick she pointed into the dark corner where
the spinning-wheel stood,