By Berwen Banks

"Where that Mr. Gwynne Ellis wass ussed to be with you at Brynderyn?

Very good sort, indeed! Why you not go and stop with him a bit, and

bring him back here with you?"

Cardo thought the matter over silently, while Shoni whittled a stake

for a hay band.

"I think I will, Shoni; I feel I must go away from here for a time."

"Yes, you so rich there's no need for you to work like you do."

"No--that's the worst of it," said Cardo; "I feel my hard work is

benefiting nobody."

"Iss, benefit you, cos it help to fill your mind."

"Yes, but I am tired of myself," and Cardo heaved a deep sigh. "Well,

it's no use grumbling and grunting, Shoni, and if you don't see me

about next week you will know where I am gone to."

"Yes--but, indeed, I am thinking Essec Powell will miss you. He think

now s'no one like you in the world, 'he help me a lot, Shoni,' he say,

'with his Latin and his Greek,' and the Vicare, he says, 'it wass

wonderful how many books he got on his shelfs!' and indeed I think,"

continued Shoni, "the two old men will live much longer now they got

their noses over the same old book so often!"

"I hope so," said Cardo, "and I am glad to think that the provision we

have made for him has taken the sting out of his brother's 'will.'"

And he went homewards as broad-shouldered and as handsome as ever, but

not whistling or humming as was his wont.

His father, who saw how utterly his son was failing in his endeavour to

regain his peace of mind, fell in with his proposal of a visit to

Gwynne Ellis with great willingness.

"The very thing, Cardo, and bring him back with you if you can; he was

a nice fellow on the whole in spite of his radical ideas."

Once more Cardo took his way from Caer Madoc to the little wayside

station which connected that secluded neighbourhood with the busy,

outside world. He had written to Gwynne Ellis to inform him of his

coming, and had received a warm and welcoming answer to his letter.

"Come, my dear fellow; I shall be delighted to receive you in my

diggings, and bring some of the poetry and charm of your lovely

neighbourhood with you if you can, for this place is flat, and dull,

and gray. But, by the by, I haven't told you I am likely to be removed

very soon to a good, fat living, old boy, near Monmouth--but I will

tell you all about it when we meet."

Gwynne Ellis's present abode was on the borders of Gloucestershire, and

here Cardo found him waiting for him at the station.