The next day saw him entering the pleasant drawing-room at Carne Hall, where Mrs. Power was as usual dozing in her arm-chair, with a piece of wool-work in her hand, upon which she sometimes worked a few stitches while she purred a little remark to Gwladys, who sat nearer the window, making believe to work also. She had already remarked, "Auntie, this is the new Vicar, I am sure," when the door opened and Gwynne Ellis entered. Having shaken hands with Mrs. Power, he turned to Gwladys with a smile of greeting. "Valmai!" he said, "I beg pardon--Mrs.--" "No," said Gwladys, drawing herself up, "I am Gwladys Powell, Valmai's sister--but do you know her?" "Know her? well!" said Gwynne Ellis; "but I have never seen such an extraordinary likeness." "Yes," said Mrs. Power, "they are twins, and apart, it is almost impossible to distinguish one from the other." "Where is she?" he asked, "is she here?" "No," answered Gwladys, "she has been here, but is now staying with some friends of ours in Radnorshire." "Ah! I see, I am sorry; I should like to have seen her, but I can scarce say I miss her while you are present, for I certainly see no difference between you." Gwladys was more talkative than usual. She and Mrs. Power were pleasantly impressed, and congratulated themselves upon having gained an agreeable addition to their very limited social circle in the person of their new Vicar. "This is a charming neighbourhood. I saw by a little glint of sunshine, as I came up the drive, that you have a pond or lake in that firwood; and that is always tempting to an artist. Do you draw, Miss Powell?" "Yes," said Gwladys. "My efforts are very humble, but I have one drawing of the lake." And she fetched it from a portfolio. "Show him all your drawings, dear," said Mrs. Power; "or, better still, would you like to see the lake, Mr Ellis?" "If it would not tire Miss Powell to show it me--" "Oh, no! I can take you by it to the west gate, it will shorten your way home." "But not yet, here is tea," said Mrs. Power; and they were soon chatting over all the parish news. At last Ellis rose to go, and Gwladys, putting on a broad-brimmed straw hat, passed out before him through the window--Mrs. Power detaining them with endless directions as to where to stop, where to turn to look at the sun through the fir trees, where to look back for a view of the house, etc., etc. "This walk is lovely," said Ellis, as he watched the graceful movements of his companion, who glided over the velvet carpet of moss with noiseless footsteps, reminding him of a guardian spirit who walked silently beside some hum-drum man of the world. "I wonder Valmai never mentioned you to me," she said. "Did she not?" he asked thoughtfully. "Did she never mention Abersethin, Brynderyn, and the Berwen?" "No, they are all strange names to me, except Abersethin; she lived there after her return from Patagonia."