By Berwen Banks

At this remark Lewis Wynne burst into an uncontrollable fit of laughter.

"The richest thing I ever heard of. Ha, ha, ha! Meurig Wynne's son

married to a Methodist preacher's niece. My dear boy, he'll never give

his consent. Why, he hated them like the very devil himself, and now

you expect him to agree to your marrying a Methodist."

"He'll have to," said Cardo, "and I think he will."

"Never, my boy, never," said Lewis, rubbing his hands gleefully. "I

expect we shall have some exciting times down there, Nellie?"

"Yes; there will be one thing missing, and that will be dear Agnes."

"It will always be a mystery to me," said Lewis Wynne, "how I missed

your father's letter, although certainly I was roaming about a good

deal at the time, and afterwards never hearing my brother's name from

Dr. Hughes, who wrote occasionally, I naturally thought he was still

keeping up his unaccountable anger against me; and the busy life of an

Australian station soon occupied my life entirely; but, hurrah! for old

Cymry now. We'll go back and make it all right, Cardo."

And in less than a month from this time, a very bright and cheerful

party went on board the fast sailing steamer Wellingtonia. Mr. and

Mrs. Wynne especially were full of life and spirits.

Dr. Belton went on board with them, and when the last good-byes were

said, he declared that Cardo's leaving would cause a great blank in his

life, as not only had he been greatly interested in the young man as "a

case," but he had also grown much attached to him as a friend.

The bell rang, the gangway was raised, and the Wellingtonia moved

from the side of the quay; and when at last they had fairly bid

good-bye to Australia, they turned to look at each other, and to

realise that another leaf in the book of life had been turned over.

Cardo was full of the brightest hopes, but shaded by anxiety, for he

knew now that two whole years had passed away since he bade good-bye to

Valmai on the quay at Fordsea. What had been her fate since then? How

had she borne his long and unexplained absence and silence? And as he

paced up and down the deck he was full of troubled thought, as well as

of bright hopes and anticipations.

"She must think me dead, but she will soon hear; in another week she

will receive my letter, and, oh! I will make up to her in the future

for all she may have suffered. Valmai, my darling! I am coming back

to you, to kiss away your tears, and to shield you from every trouble

in the future!"