round Primrose's waist, greeting her husband in the doorway with a hearty embrace before presenting to him her blushing young guest, who hung back somewhat shyly at the sight of the grave, stately Sir Ivor, whom she had never before seen. "Now I beg of you, Shanno," exclaimed Lady Rosamond, "to stand in no awe of my husband! He has truly a grave and almost reverend exterior, but within he has a kind heart; and since he has these many years tolerated my wiles with a good grace, you may know he is scarce so terrible as he appears!" Whereupon Primrose could but laugh heartily, while the grave muscles of Sir Ivor's face relaxed, and he joined in the laugh against himself, with perfect understanding of his wife's gay speeches. And after a few kind words from him, Primrose grew quite at her ease, and the meal passed merrily enough, the earl telling many interesting tales of the old castles, legends of King Arthur, and more recent stories of the part Caer Caradoc had played in the old warfare between Wales and England, and of marvellous escapes made in such times by means of the wonderful subterranean passage into which he offered to take her one day, on condition that his wife would prove her affection for him by accompanying them. ''Tis a hard trial of my constancy!" said Lady Rosamond, shivering with mock terror. "I will make no rash promises. Perchance before fair Shanno leaves us she may instil more strength into my poor weak soul than it can as yet boast; but if not, she shall not go without me, for never shall it be said of your wife that she suffered a hapless maiden to be lured into the deeps of the earth to her destruction! So, Primrose, you must needs rouse me to a greater height of courage than now, or make up your mind not to hazard your life in such an abyss of darkness." "I am not sure if I have courage enough of my own," said Primrose; "but I would dearly like to explore the passage, and would trust that the bravery of Sir Ivor might avail for us all. Think you, dear Master Rhys, that my guardian would forbid me to go in company with others?" "Nay, I think not so," answered the vicar, "for you will be safe enough in Sir Ivor's keeping, since I know him to have been acquainted from boyhood with every twist and turn in the tunnel. I would like well enough to accompany you myself, but that my old bones are too venerable for such stooping and rattling over loose stones in darkness!" "No such penance shall be enforced upon you, dear friend," said Lady Rosamond. "We will engage ourselves this forenoon with pastimes less fatiguing to our limbs and nerves, and leave this expedition until some day when you are no longer with us. Come, Primrose, we will walk in the garden awhile, and you, dear friend, will find us there anon, should you be disposed to come and see my summer blossoms. Meanwhile we will leave you to the tender mercies of my liege lord, who will weary you with discussion of king and