A few days later the castle was again deserted by its gay inmates, and Jack in his secret heart was not sorry, for though it made his heart swell with pride to see his darling in such imminent danger of being spoilt by the grand folks' petting, yet he had a strong suspicion that more than once the baby lips had tasted the forbidden drink when his back was turned, and what with the mysterious warning on the subject from her unknown mother, and his own strong principles, this was a matter which gave him some concern. With his love for the young earl, a deep pity was mingled in the boatman's heart, for he saw only too well that he had become a slave to the love of strong drink, for which even in his boyhood he had shown a craving. But the boatman was above all men loyal to the old House of Bryn Afon, and spoke no ill of the earl among his neighbours, who were never tired of praising his fine face and form, as he rode by, and who talked hopefully of better days for the castle now that the master had once more begun to visit it, and indulged in many hopes, which, alas, were day after day ungratified, of seeing the fair young wife whom he had chosen. And the following summer the earl himself was looked for in vain, and through the long bright months the old castle again remained deserted. This was perhaps not to be greatly wondered at, however, since Lord Bryn Afon was well known to be as special a favourite of King Charles as his father had been of James I., and the young king having succeeded to the throne in the March of this year, it might be reasonably expected that he would desire the earl's presence about his royal person at this beginning of his new dignities. And the honest folk of the Gwynnon Valley, being no whit behind the rest of their compatriots in their loyalty and devotion to the House of Stuart, rejoiced in the knowledge of the royal favour bestowed upon more than one proud owner of those ancient and lordly castles which crowned the summits of their fair hills, and at whose feet the river flowed humbly through the shining meadows, rippling its graceful homage in musical murmur as it passed. And Jack, who with all his loyalty had not been able to shut his ears to the current tales of drunkenness and dissipation which had too often disgraced the Court of his late Majesty, rejoiced in the prospect of a purer atmosphere henceforth for his beloved young lord and master, Bryn Afon, and took pleasure in the thought that the pure and temperate life of the new king could not fail to counteract in great measure those evil tendencies in his friend which his royal father's influence and example had too unhappily fostered. CHAPTER V. A MYSTERIOUS JOURNEY.