all be to find out your wife, Cardo, and to set you
right in her estimation."

"Never," said Cardo; "she has encased herself in armour of cold and
haughty reserve, which not even your persuasive and cordial manners
will break through."

"Time will show; I have a firm conviction, that I shall set things
straight for you, so cheer up my friend, and await what the wonderful
Gwynne Ellis can do for you. But you look very tired."

"Yes, I will go to bed," said Cardo.

"And to-morrow we'll have a tramp round the parish, and visit some of
the old fogies in their cottage. A mongrel sort, neither Welsh nor
English; not so interesting as your queer-looking old people down at
Abersethin. Good-night."

CHAPTER XIX.

THE MEREDITHS

There is no part of Wales more rural and unspoilt by the inroads of
what is called "civilisation" than some of the secluded valleys lying
between the Radnorshire hills. Here Nature still holds her own, and
spreads her pure and simple charms before us. Large tracts of moor and
rushy fen are interspersed with craggy hills, rising one behind another
in lovely shades of purple and blue; and far from the haunts of men, or
at all events of town men, many acres of uncultivated land are still
tenanted by the wild mountain pony and the picturesque gipsy. On the
edge of one of these moors stood a quaint old family mansion,
surrounded by extensive grounds and woods. In front lay a descending
plain of varied beauty, green meadows, winding streams, and placid
lakelets; behind it, the wild vales and moor stretched up to the brown
and blue hills.

Colonel Meredith had lived there all his life, his ancestors before
him, and here it was that Valmai had found a home as companion to the
delicate eldest daughter of the family, who was delighted to find in
her so congenial a friend. Her beauty had made a great impression upon
the whole amiable family, as good looks often do upon people who cannot
boast of the same advantages. It was a good thing that the girl had no
vanity in her character, for her charms were continually brought before
her in the household. Her pet name was "Beauty," and Colonel Meredith
was fond of dilating upon her attractions of person wherever he went.
Cecil, a boy of sixteen, was completely her slave, and considered
himself the victim of a hopeless passion; while the girls vied with
each other in their love and adulation of their friend, so Valmai led
at least an outwardly cal