I brooded upon it night and day, and my life became a hell upon earth.
"One day in the early spring, about a month before you were born, Caradoc, I had been to a funeral at the old church; and hearing of the serious illness of a parishioner who lived on the high road to Abersethin, I followed the path on the left side of the Berwen, and as I neared the bridge which crosses the valley on the top, I suddenly came upon Agnes, who was sitting on a boulder by the side of the brook, and as I approached I saw her dry her eyes hurriedly.

She rose from her seat, and her colour came and went as she looked at me.

I longed to take her in my arms and press her to my heart, for she looked pale and sorrowful." An exclamation from Cardo interrupted him.
"It pains you, Caradoc--it pains me--it pained me then--it will pain me as long as I have any being.

I may be forgiven hereafter, but it cannot cease to pain me.
"'Agnes,' I said, 'are you not straying very far from home ?' "'I came for a walk,' she answered; 'it is a lovely day!' "'I did not know you could walk so far,' I said.

'Last evening when I asked you to come down to the shore with me, you said it was too far!' "'Yesterday, Meurig, I was feeling very ill; to-day I am better.' "Her lip quivered a little, and she looked round uneasily, I thought.
"I said, 'I am going to see old Shon Gweydd, or I would walk back with you; but perhaps you don't mind going alone.' "'Oh, no, not at all,' she said, as she began her way back by the Berwen.
"I went my way with a heavy heart, and as I entered Shon Gweydd's house (it was a little way down the road) I looked back at the bridge, and saw a girl cross the stile and go down into the valley.