and Cardo smiled
bitterly as he thought how different everything was, in spite of the
curious "harking back" of all the small circumstances. Awaking from a
reverie, he missed the grey figure; but forgetting her at once, and
again absorbed in thought, he had passed the hollow in the bank, when a
soft voice followed him on the breeze.

"Cardo!"

Instantly he turned, and standing still as a statue, watched with
eagerness a grey form which seemed to rise from the hedge. He heard
his own heart beat loudly, and in the still night air he heard the
sough of the sea, and the harsh call of the corncrake. Again the voice
said, "Cardo!" very low and trembling. With one bound he was beside
the speaker, and in the light of the moon Valmai stood plainly
revealed. The sweet eyes glistened as of old, and the night breeze
played with the little curls of gold which escaped from their
restraining coiffure. She held out her hands, and in a moment Cardo's
strong arms were around her.

"My wild sea-bird," he said, in a passionate whisper, "have you flown
back to me? Valmai, my darling, what does it mean? Have you forgiven
me? Have you repented of those cruel words, dearest? Oh, say it was
not my Valmai who called me 'base and dishonourable.' Speak dearest,"
he said, while he showered kisses upon the uncovered head which leant
upon his breast.

"It was not your Valmai, Cardo. How could you think it possible? It
was not I whom you saw in the Moss Walk. I did not know till to-day,
this very day, that those cruel words were spoken."

"Let us sit here, my beloved; give me your hand; let me try to realise
this bewildering joy." And hand in hand they sat on the grassy bank,
while the corn-crake called, and the sea heaved and whispered behind
them.

There, under the golden moon, with endless questions and reiteration of
answers, Valmai told her story and Cardo told his, until the moon rode
high in the sky. Again and again Cardo pressed her to his heart, and
again and again she took his brown hands in her own and laid her cheek
upon them.

"Oh, Cardo! is it true? or is it all a dream? So suddenly to leave my
sadness and sorrow behind, and to awake to this blessed reality!" And
as they rose to pursue their walk together, Cardo drew her arm through
his, as if afraid for a moment to loosen his hold of her.

"But your sister, dearest, is _not_ like you! How could I have been
deceived? How could I, for one moment, have thoug