ly, for he would surprise her.
He would approach nearer and call her name, and then she would turn,
and he would see the love-light in those starry eyes, of which he had
dreamed at night and longed for by day. He was close upon her, but his
footsteps made no sound on the velvet carpet.

"Valmai!" he said at last, and stood with wide-open arms and a
rapturous smile on his lips.

But at the sound of his voice the girl darted forward a few steps
before she turned round and faced the stranger. Her first look was of
astonishment and fright, immediately followed by one of indignation.

"Valmai, my darling, I have frightened you," he said, but dropping his
arms and the smile dying out of his face; for before the girl had
opened her lips to speak, he saw the flush of indignation and the
haughty look which passed over her face.

"Back!" she said, holding up her hand as if to keep him away; "not a
step nearer. And what if I am Valmai? What is she to you after all
these months of cruel neglect?"

Cardo stood still. Was this the meeting he had pictured to himself a
thousand times? Had her troubles unhinged her mind? Was she
distraught?

"What is it, Valmai, my darling, that has changed you so? What is that
cold, haughty look on your face? I am Cardo, dearest--your own Cardo!
come back to explain everything to you, and to clasp you in his loving
arms," and again he approached as if to embrace her.

"Stand back," said Gwladys once more. "If you come a step nearer, I
will call for help from the house."

"No, no," said Cardo, "do not do that. I will obey you, dearest; but
tell me what is the meaning of this change in you? Oh, Valmai! has
your love indeed perished? Have you forgotten the happy past, the
walks by the Berwen, the fortnight at Fordsea? I have been ill,
dearest--have lain unconscious for months in a hospital; but I swear
that, from the moment I left you until now, every conscious thought,
every fibre of my being, every chord of memory has been faithful to
you, and to you alone! Come and sit on this bench. Five minutes will
explain all to you, and I will not believe that my Valmai can have
become the cold and heartless girl you seem to be."

But Gwladys continued standing, and looking at him with eyes in which
scorn and contempt were but too plainly visible.

"Good heavens, Valmai!" said Cardo, with clenched hands, the cold sweat
breaking out on his face; "do you remember it is a man's very soul y