"I believe you speak truly, Percival," said Lady Bryn Afon; "but, believe me, you may rest assured on this point, and that I shall ever bless you for the love _you_--(of all men living the one to whom I can with fullest love and confidence entrust her)--have in God's good providence seen fit to shower upon her. That she should one day make so safe and blessed a marriage as hers with you must needs be, has been for years past my one wish for her, and my sole hope of undoing that curse which threatens my husband's unhappy family with entire ruin. Yet last summer, when I noted the growing affection between you, I scarce dared hope that, when you knew all, your love could be strong enough to outlive your knowledge of the truth concerning her, and my heart was torn asunder with conflicting emotions! Then, after we had parted, and I had poured my anxieties, as I ever do, into the sympathising ears of our good physician, and had heard from his own lips that in his opinion my dream of her union with you might with all safety and happiness for you both become a reality, with no fear of ensuing woe--then my fears were laid to rest; and knowing how deeply your mutual affection (perhaps unconsciously on her part) had been stirred, I looked forward with joy and hope to your meeting again with that happy result which, I trow, will scarce be frustrated. Yet, could I think that you will too late repent the confession of your love, I conjure you, Percival, to be silent, and even now to fly from my darling's presence! Heaven forbid that this hand of mine, which has already wrought such ill, should bring either of you, my dearly-loved children, to the misery of an unhappy wedded life!" "Lay your fears to rest, dear lady," said Percival, "as I, in God's great love and mercy, have with a pure conscience this some while since laid mine. I am indeed doubly blessed in thinking, that not only is the great happiness of which I scarce dare yet dream your fair daughter can account me worthy, now perchance verily within my reach, but that also in making her my wife, an she will bestow on me so great and undeserved a favour, I shall be privileged to see the fulfilment of my most earnest desire--the removal of the curse from the House of Bryn Afon." CHAPTER XXVI. THE "LILY" AND THE "PRIMROSE." "He shall only well known be By the holy harmony That his coming makes in thee." --ANON.