en window, Valmai drew the candle nearer and
continued to read.

Outside in the dusky twilight Cardo was gazing his fill at the face
which had haunted him ever since he had seen it on the road from Caer
Madoc. Yes, it was a beautiful face! even more lovely than he imagined
it to be in the dim evening light. He took note of the golden wavy
hair growing low on her broad, white forehead, her darker eyebrows that
reminded him of the two arches of a beautiful bridge, under which
gleamed two clear pools, reflecting the blue of the sky and the glint
of the sunshine, the straight, well-formed nose, the pensive, mobile
mouth, the complexion of a pale pink rose, and added to this the
indescribable charm of grace and manner which spread through her
personality.

The evening shadows darkened, the sunset glow faded, and the moon rose
in a cloudless sky. The distant sound of the regular plash of the
waves on the beach reached Cardo's ears. He thought of the long
reaches of golden sand lying cool and grey in the moonlight, and all
the romantic dreams of youth awoke within him.

Was it right that Valmai should be bending over a musty book in a
dimly-lit room? while outside were the velvet turf of the cliffs, the
plashing waves, and the silver moonlight.

But the reading still went on, the gentle voice growing a little weary
and monotonous, and the white eyelids falling a little heavily over the
blue eyes.

Long Cardo watched and gazed, and at last, turning away, he walked
moodily home. He knew his father would expect him to supper at ten
o'clock punctually, and hurried his steps as he approached the house.
Just in time, for Betto was placing on the table an appetising supper
of cawl and bread and butter, which the two men were soon discussing
silently, for the Vicar was more pre-occupied than usual, and Cardo,
too, was busy with his own thoughts.

Suddenly the former spoke.

"Is the long meadow finished?" he said.

"Yes; Dye is a splendid fellow to work, and Ebben and he together get
through a good deal."

"To-morrow they can clear out the barn. The next day is the market at
Llanilwyn; they must go there and buy a cow which Jones Pant y rych is
going to sell. I have told Ebben he is not to give more than 8 pounds
for her, and that is one pound more than she is worth."

Cardo was silent. To clear out the barn next day was easy enough, but
to get Dye and Ebben to the market on the following day would be
impossible.