So because 'a was so owld an' terrible palchy, an' hadn' got nowan to taake no int'rest in un, through never havin' took no int'rest in nowan, they was obliged to put un up to Maddern Union; an' there 'a lingered, owld an' toatlish,[K] 'tell 'a died at laast a lone owld man. FOOTNOTES: [B] Prying. [C] The mermaid, with glass and comb and with the tail of a fish, which is carved on a bench-end in Zennor church. [D] Ancient hut-dwellings. [E] Barrows. [F] Cromlech. The term is derived from the legendary belief that these rude megalithic monuments were used by the giants when playing quoits. [G] A little bit, in the least. [H] In Cornwall _witch_ is both masculine and feminine. The _black_ witch exercises the most potent magic; the _white_ witch being vastly inferior in power. [I] Fool. [J] Weak. [K] Silly. THE PURSUIT. IT began when I was a lad at the country day-school, struggling to hold my own among the scholars in my class. If I could only always be perfect in my lessons, and among the foremost (if not the first) in the examinations; then, at least, I thought, I should see Her face to face. But these good things befell me--possibly undeservedly--and though I swelled beneath my coat with inward satisfaction, _She_ was still far off: a phantom on the hills. Then it struck me that if I went to dear Mother Nature she would tell me of this daughter of hers--so enchanting, yet so shy--and I might even one day surprise Her on the hill-slopes, or meet Her as She wandered among the green, winding lanes. So I presently became a haunter of the tree-clad valleys, of the prattling brooks with the meadowsweet drooping over them, and of the lone, bleak hills where the great wind growled. Many mornings did I steal out long before the sunrise in order to watch the stars die out in the dawning and the red bars glow in the palpitating east. And when, standing among the firs in the windy plantation, I saw the huge sun rear its head and flood the world with splendour, and heard the birds sing jubilantly, almost breathless with delight, I have fancied I felt the breath of the Beloved One on my cheek and Her heart beating wildly and tremulously against my own. But it was only fancy. Presently the singing dwindled and became fainter: the air grew hot beneath the aromatic fir-boughs: and when, in the distance, the flood of dazzling sunlight dashed redly on the window-panes of the village cottages, I knew I must descend from the haunted hill-top and return to the more prosaic details of life. If She had flown past me, brushing me with Her garments in passing, I had not yet discovered Her as a possession that I could grasp. Then I said to myself, I shall find Her among my girl-friends: among their rustling garments I shall hear _Her_ garments rustle; and from among the laughing eyes with which they bewilder me, I shall no doubt be able to single out _Hers_.