It is the custom of the country to keep a love affair a secret as long
as possible; if it is discovered and talked about by outside gossips,
half its delight and charm is gone; indeed it is considered indelicate
to show any signs of love-making in public. It is true that this
secrecy often leads to serious mischief, but, on the other hand, there
is much to be said for the sensitive modesty of the Welsh maiden, when
compared with an English girl's too evident appreciation of her lover's
attentions in public. So hitherto Morva had followed Will's lead, and
shown no signs of more than the love and affection which was naturally
to be expected from her close intercourse with the Garthowen family
from babyhood. Did she feel anything more? She thought she did. From
childhood she had been promised to Will; the idea of marrying him when
they were both grown to manhood and maidenhood had been familiar to her
ever since she could remember. It caused no excitement in her mind, no
tumult in her heart. It was in the nature of things--it was Will's
wish--it was her fate! She did not rebel against it, but it woke no
thrill of delight within her. She had promised, and the idea of
breaking that promise was one that never entered her mind; but this
evening, as she sat under the broom bush, a curious feeling of unrest
came over her. How was it all to end? Would it not be wiser of Will
to turn his face to the world lying beyond the Cribserth ridge, where
the towns--the smooth roads--the college--and the many people lay, and
leave her to her lonely moor--to the sheep, and the gorse, and the
heather? She looked around her, where the evening sun was flooding
land and sea with golden glory.

"I would not break my heart," she thought; "here is plenty to make me
happy; there's the sea and the sands and the rocks! and at night, oh,
anwl! nobody knows how beautiful it is to float about in Stiven
'Storrom's' boat, in and out of the rocks, and the stars shining so