"The thick fog which looked so dismal as I drove into Caer Madoc with him--how little I guessed it would culminate in the darkness which brought about the collision, and so unite me with my beloved wife.

Valmai, if Providence ever arranged a marriage, it was yours and mine, dearest." "But, Cardo--" "'But me no buts,' my lovely white sea-bird.

Nothing can alter the fact that you are my own little wife." "Yes, I know," said Valmai, "but if you love me as much as you say you do, grant me one request, Cardo." "A hundred, dearest; what is it ?" "Well, we have had to be deceitful and secret--more so than I have ever been in my life.

We could not help it; but now, here, let us be open.
Give me leave to tell my uncle the truth." "Valmai! he will write at once to his brother, and the news will reach my father, and it will break his heart to find I have deceived him.
No, let me be the first to tell him.

I shall have no hesitation in doing so when I return this time next year." "But, Cardo, dear old Uncle John is quite a different sort of man to my Uncle Essec or to your father.