Her father's manner awoke some uneasiness in her mind, for long
experience had taught her that money had a way of slipping through his
hands ere ever it reached the wants of the household.

"I went with him to the bank," said Gwilym Morris reassuringly, "and
saw him put it in," and Ann was satisfied.

Under her skilful management, in spite of their dwindled means,
Garthowen was always a home of plenty. The produce of the farm was
exchanged at the village shops for the simple necessaries of domestic
life. The sheep on their own pasture lands yielded wool in abundance
for their home-spun clothing, the flitches of bacon that garnished the
rafters provided ample flavouring for the cawl, and for the rest Will
and Gwilym's fishing and shooting brought in sufficient variety for the
simple tastes of the family. Indeed, there was only one thing that was
not abundant at Garthowen, and that was--ready money!

[1] Spirit Sara.

[2] Do.

CHAPTER III

MORVA OF THE MOOR

When Will had reached the door of the farm kitchen in a fume of hot
temper, the cool sea breeze coming up the valley had bathed his flushed
face with so soothing an influence that he had turned towards it and
wandered away to the cliffs which made the seaward boundary of the
farm. A craggy hill on the opposite side of the valley cast its
lengthening shadow on his path until he reached the Cribserth, a ridge
of rocks which ran down the mountain side on the Garthowen land. It
rose abruptly from the mountain pasturage, as though some monster of
the early world were struggling to rise once more from its burial of
ages, succeeding only in erecting its rugged spine and crest through
the green sward. This ridge marked a curious division of the country,
for on one side of it lay all the signs of cultivation of which this
wind-swept parish could boast. Here were villages, fertile fields, and
wooded valleys; but beyond the rugged escarpment all was different.
For miles the seaward side of the hills was wild and bare, except for
the soft velvet turf, interspersed with gorse and heather, which
stretched up the steep slopes, covering and softening every rough
outline. Even Will, as he rounded the ridge, recovered his equanimity,
and his face lighted up with pleasure at the sight which met his view.
Down below glistened a sea of burnished gold, with tints and shades of
purple grey; above stretched a sky of still more glowing colours; and
landward, ris