promise of love that a short time would bring forth, and he could
almost have smiled at the impotent efforts to disturb his peace.

A few more months, and the young father was greeted by a feeble
little cry, when he hastily entered Ty Glas, one morning early, in
consequence of a summons conveyed mysteriously to Bodowen; and the
pale mother, smiling, and feebly holding up her babe to its father's
kiss, seemed to him even more lovely than the bright gay Nest who had
won his heart at the little inn of Penmorfa.

But the curse was at work! The fulfilment of the prophecy was nigh
at hand!



CHAPTER II.



It was the autumn after the birth of their boy; it had been a
glorious summer, with bright, hot, sunny weather; and now the year
was fading away as seasonably into mellow days, with mornings of
silver mists and clear frosty nights. The blooming look of the time
of flowers, was past and gone; but instead there were even richer
tints abroad in the sun-coloured leaves, the lichens, the golden
blossomed furze; if it was the time of fading, there was a glory in
the decay.

Nest, in her loving anxiety to surround her dwelling with every charm
for her husband's sake, had turned gardener, and the little corners