By Berwen Banks

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. It was the opening of the Sassiwn, and he knew that

neither of the men would be absent on that occasion, even though

disobedience should cost them their place. They were both Methodists,

and it had gone hard with the Vicar before he had taken them into his

service; but the exigencies of farm life had compelled him to do so, as

there was absolutely not one young man amongst his own congregation.

To do him justice, he had forgotten for the moment that the market day

at Llanilwyn would also be the Sassiwn day.

"Do you remember, father, the Sassiwn begins the day after to-morrow?"

"I had forgotten it, but I don't see what difference that can make to

my buying a cow."

"But Ebben and Dye will want to be at the meetings."

A shadow crossed the old man's face. He made no answer, but continued

to eat his supper in silence, and at last rose, and with a short

"Good-night, Cardo," went into his study. He knew as well as his son

did that it would be useless to try and persuade his servants to be

absent from the meetings, and the knowledge galled him bitterly, too

bitterly for words, so he was silent; and Cardo, knowing his humour,

said nothing to Dye and Ebben of his father's wishes.