Valmai sat long gazing at the crimson pathway over the sea, both heart

and soul filled to over-flowing with the beauty of the sunset hour.

Not even Cardo's presence was missed by her, for she knew now that he

loved her; she knew that sooner or later she should meet him, should

see him coming, through the golden sunlight of the morning, or in the

crimson glory of the evening, with buoyant steps and greeting hands

towards her; and almost as the thought crossed her mind, a sound fell

on her ear which brought the red blood mantling to her cheek. Thud,

thud on the sands; it was surely his footsteps, and in another moment

Cardo was beside her.

"At last, Valmai!" he said, stretching out both hands to clasp her own

as she rose to meet him, "at last! Where have you been the last three

years? do not say they have been days! are you well and none the worse

for your wetting?" and still holding her hands in his, he made her sit

again on the rock, while he stretched himself on the dry sand at her

feet.

A little silence fell upon them both--a strange constraint which was

new to them, and which Valmai was the first to break.

"I ought to be thanking you for saving my life, Cardo Wynne; but indeed

I have no words to speak my thanks. I know I owe my life to you. What

will I say?"

"Nothing," he said, leaning on his elbows and looking up into her face,

"nothing; there is no need for thanks, for I could not help myself. It

was the simplest thing; seeing you in danger I helped you out of it,

for, Valmai," and here his voice sank low and trembled a little, "it is

like this with me, and you must know it; had you been washed away by

those cruel waves, there would have been no Cardo Wynne here to-night!

I could not live without you! And you--Valmai, how is it with you?"

Her head drooped very low. Cardo, lying on the sands, looked up into

the blushing face; but still she made no answer. Starting to his feet,

he stretched out both hands to her, and said: "Come, fanwylyd; let us walk together--I cannot rest. Valmai, tell

me, have I the same place in your heart that you have in mine? Place

in my heart! Good heavens! There is no room there for anything else.

You own it all, Valmai; you sway my very being! Have you no comfort to

give me? Speak to me, dearest."

"Cardo," said Valmai, "can I give you what you have already stolen from

me? I was alone and friendless when I met you that night in the

moonlight, now I am happy though my heart has gone from me. What shall

I say more? my English is not very good."




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