Lady Bryn Afon's eyes filled with tears. "I have no right to betray a maiden's secrets," she said, "nor have I sought to win them from her; but I have been young even as Primrose, and methinks can read in her transparent countenance and clear truthful eyes more than she wots of. But Percival, be that as it may, you are both wise and right in your decision to keep strict silence for the present, for the history of fair Shanno is a passing strange one, and neither you nor she must surely fetter yourselves by any ties but those of friendship, while her future with her as yet unknown mother remains hid in obscurity." "For me, I should feel no fetters," interposed the young man eagerly. "I would fain be at her side when that dreaded moment of meeting comes, to shield her from all possible ill, and take her away from any sorrow it may chance to bring her into the shelter of such a home as I could offer. It is for her sake alone that I cannot yet feel it right to seek to bind her by any promises, nor even seek the confession of a love which I scarcely dare yet hope for, and which might bring trouble upon her. Nay, I promise you that I will keep silence, nor attempt to seek her out during the coming years of separation, darkly though they lower before me." "That is well," said Lady Bryn Afon. "And as to her, poor child, she will again be happy by her riverside in her loving guardian's care, even though a new-felt loneliness will, I fear me, be her portion for awhile after these happy weeks. Percival, have you verily no fear in thus giving your heart away to one of whose birth and parentage you are wholly ignorant? Have you no fear of what the future may chance to reveal? And will the proud descendant of Ap Gryffyth and the Veres not hesitate to seek in marriage one whose mother has confessed herself to be of kin to such an one as honest Jack the boatman--of long descent indeed, and of a good old family, but withal a humble one?" "I fear me my love hath so fully eaten up my pride," answered Percival with a smile, "that I would fain win this fair woodland flower and wear her next my heart, be she whom she may. Let even shame and disgrace o'ershadow her unknown parents' history, I would but the more gladly shelter her beneath my own great love from every lingering breath of evil, and even so feel myself the more worthy of the name I bear. Dear madam, trust me that my honour shall be as great as my love, and all shall go well. Hush, she comes!" And tripping lightly over the greensward came Primrose, surely more fair than ever, her white summer gown falling in soft folds around her, and her wealth of golden hair, still floating childlike over her shoulders, glittering like streams of gold in the evening sunlight. And as Percival Vere looked at her a great trembling seized him, and he buried his face in his hands. "You are weary, Master Vere," she said, throwing herself on the grass at Lady Bryn Afon's feet, and