y, but I know that means 'sweet as May.' Oh, Cardo Wynne,
what a lucky dog you are!"

Cardo was still silent, and his friend continued, pointing to Dinas:

"And there she dwells (haven't I seen your eyes attracted there
continually? Of course, there's the glimmer of her lamp!) high on the
breezy cliff, with the pure sea wind blowing around her, the light and
joy of her father's home, and soon to fly across the valley and lighten
up another home."

"Oh, stop, stop, for mercy's sake!" said Cardo. "Your Pegasus is
flying away with you to-night, Ellis. Your imagination is weaving a
picture which is far beside the truth. You have not guessed badly. I
do love Valmai, Corwen's mistress, and I wish to God the rest of the
picture were true."

"Pooh! my dear fellow, 'the course of true love,' you know, etc., etc.
It will all come right in time, of course; these things always do.
I'll manage it all for you. I delight in a love affair, especially one
that's got a little entangled, you know."

"Here it is, then," said Cardo. "Valmai has neither father nor mother,
and lives up there with an old uncle, who takes no more notice of her
than he does of his cows or his sheep, but who would be quite capable
of shutting her up and feeding her on bread and water if he knew that
she ever exchanged greetings with a Churchman, for he is a Methodist
preacher and her guardian to boot."

A long-drawn whistle was Gwynne Ellis's only answer, but he rubbed his
hands gleefully.

"Then," continued Cardo, "on this side of the valley there is my
father, shut up with his books, taking no interest in anything much
except his church and his farm, but with a bigoted, bitter hatred of
all dissenters, especially Methodists, and most especially of the
Methodist preacher. Why, Ellis, they convene public meetings on
purpose to pray for each other, and I believe if my father knew that I
loved Essec Powell's niece he would _break his heart_. Therefore, I
cannot tell him--it is impossible; but it is equally impossible for me,
as long as I have any being, to cease to love Valmai. Now, there! what
way do you see out of that maze?"

"Many ways," said Ellis, rubbing his hands with delight. "My dear
fellow, you have pitched upon the right person. I'll help you out of
your difficulties, but you must let me see her."

"All right!--to-morrow!" said Cardo, as they neared Brynderyn.

When their voices reached the Vicar's ears, he paused in his reading