since been given up as dead without doubt by my supposed untimely fall into the bottomless well, on the brink of which my bonnet had unawares fallen, as a witness against me; and I then resolved never to suffer my father to know of my existence, unless the time should ever come, as now, when I could bring him comfort and joy by the knowledge. Now, my sweet Primrose, you know why it was to these faithful arms I committed you in your innocent babyhood, and you now know the worst of your mother's sinful past. Stay here awhile, and cheer the heart of my most dear and long-suffering father, while I seek Percival Vere, who, as the first to know you to be the Earl of Bryn Afon's daughter, must not be longer left in darkness as to our whole story." * * * * * * * "Then, Percival," said Lady Bryn Afon, at the close of an interview which had lasted more than an hour, "this further unfolding of my tale has no power to change the strong current of your affections? You, in whose veins runs the proud blood of noble families both of Wales and England, feel now no secret shrinking from the thought of taking to your heart a wife whose birth on her mother's side is lowly, and on her father's, shadowed by a curse which is the bitter fruit of past shame and disgrace? Think the matter over seriously, Percival, ere I bid you tell my daughter all that is in your heart, for, were I to think you could e'er repent, when too late, of your marriage, and so bring upon her such sorrow as mine, my heart would break." "My love for her is such, dear madam," he answered, "that nought in life, nor even death itself, can take aught from its power. She is to all eternity my one and only love, and whether wedded to her or no my heart is hers unalterably. Night after night, in the silent hours of darkness, I have pondered over the subject of our union, knowing I dare not tempt your sweet Primrose to share with me that holy estate, with my full knowledge of the curse and all its consequences, unless my conscience were fully satisfied in the sight of God that the measures you have taken to avert those consequences from her had been blessed by God with entire success. I have too deeply studied the matter in all its bearings to dare snatch greedily for myself a happiness which might bring misery to her and to future beings, and had I not fully satisfied myself, by seeking the counsels of Rhiwallon, so far more skilled than I in all wisdom and learning, that your dealings and his with her from her babyhood could not fail to avert the terrible results never yet averted from her ancestors, I would have torn my heart asunder ere I would again have ventured into her sweet presence, perchance to rouse again in her girlish heart those feelings which during the last fair summer I presumed to think my own ill-concealed affection had caused to stir in her heart towards me!"