"The most powerful of the human passions is love in its mystical, ideal, spiritual fervour."--_Essay on_ BROWNING. "It is foolish to be afraid of making our ties too spiritual, as if so we could lose any genuine love."--EMERSON. So, being rid of the burden of so many weary weeks, Lady Shanno returned bravely to her solitary castle, and her knight to his humbler dwelling in the valley, looking for no higher joy than to know that some radiance might in God's mercy shine forth from their pure and holy lives athwart the darkness of the strife and bitterness, which, reigning throughout England, overflowed in no small share into the far-distant Welsh valleys. Scarce could any district in the principality follow the fortunes of the fallen king with more loyal enthusiasm and devotion than the fair vale of Gwynnon, roused by the gallant deeds of Sir Ivor Meredith and many another brave owner of those sturdy strongholds which crowned the rocky hill-tops, and above all by the devotion of the people to the memory of the brave but unfortunate Lord Bryn Afon, who had given his life for his sovereign, and expiated by a noble death his early deeds of sin and folly--the fatal inheritance of his forefathers. And in the year after his death the zeal of the simple folk was freshly kindled by the news that at the battle of Cardigan their favourite preacher and their beloved vicar's bosom friend, Master Jeremy Taylor, had been taken prisoner, whereupon much excitement ensued, and great sympathy was enlisted on his behalf, and finally, he being allowed his freedom, though deprived both of his chaplaincy to the royal forces and of his living in Rutlandshire, was induced by his noble friend the Earl of Carbery, who dwelt at the brave mansion of Gelli Aur, beyond the river, to seek retirement for a season in the valley he loved so well, and with the earl's help and patronage to earn a livelihood by opening a school at Craig Arthur, which noble mansion was generously thrown open to his use by Sir Tristram, during his own absence on the field of battle, his wife being safe the while within the walls of her English home. So on these fair wooded heights above the river good Master Taylor entered upon a new vocation, and it was not long ere many well-born youths of the neighbourhood flocked to his school-house, one among them being Sir Ivor's son, little Elidore of Caer Caradoc, Lady Shanno's gallant champion. And so glad were all those who knew the gifts of learning and piety possessed by this good and holy friend of Master Vere's to place their children under the care and influence of so rarely gifted a master, that the great man did not want for pupils during the years of his humble retirement, while the poor folk in the country villages received with pride the kindly word and smile he was wont to give them as he passed on his frequent walks between Craig Arthur and Cwmfelin Parsonage. For no door was so gladly opened to him as that