my dear," said Shoni, "I daresay your uncle will be shamed of
himself to-morrow, and will be wanting you to kom back. I will bring
the gig for you; 'tis a long walk."

"No, never, Shoni; I will never go back there again, so don't bring the
gig for me; but if you will kindly send my big box to the Rock Bridge,
I will send somebody across for it."

"'S' no need for you to do that. I will take it down to the shore on
the whilbare and row it over in Simon Lewis's boat. I will kom before
dawn tomorrow, then no one will know where you are. I'll put it out on
the rocks before Nance's house and carry it up to her door."

"Thank you, thank you, Shoni; but wouldn't tonight be better?"

"Oh, no; Sunday to-night," said Shoni, in quite another tone.

He waited until he saw Nance's door opened in response to Valmai's
timid knock, and then made his way back over the Rock Bridge at once
before the tide turned.

When Nance opened her door and saw the figure of a woman standing
there, she was at first surprised, for the dress struck her at once as
not being that of a peasant.

"Nance, fach! it is I!" said Valmai. "You will let me in?"

"Let you in! yes, indeed. Haven't I been longing to see you all day!
Come in, my child, from this bitter wind; come in and get warm. I see
you have brought your basket, that means you are going to stay the
night. Right glad I am. You will have the little bed in the corner.
Keep your red cloak on, dear little heart, because the wind is blowing
in cold here at nights, and you have been used to warm rooms. I am
well used to cold, and sickness, and discomfort."

"But, Nance--" and then the terrible revelation had to be made, the
truth had to be told, and then the loving arms were clasped round the
sorrowful girl, and words of comfort and hope were whispered into her
ear. No reproaches, no cruel taunts here; nothing but the warmth of
human sympathy, and the loving forgiveness of a tender pure woman.

In the early dawn, while Valmai still slept, Shoni's "yo-hoy!" was
heard from the rocks, through which he was guiding his boat. Nance
opened her door, and, in the gray of the morning, the "big box" was
brought in and safely deposited in the tiny bedroom, which it nearly
filled.

"Good-bye," said Shoni. "Take care of her, and if she wants anything
get it for her, and remember I will pay you." And he rowed away, and
was busily ploughing when Gwen went out to milk the cows in the morning.