Canst say nothing to me, lass ?" Morva had turned her face to the broom bush, and was sobbing with her apron to her eyes.
"Why didst thou promise him ?" Gethin said again, in a fierce tone.
"I promised him when I was a little girl, and ever since, whenever he has asked me, I have said, 'Oh, Will, there is no need to say more, for I have promised,'" and she turned slowly to move away; but Gethin drew her back.
"Thou shalt not go," he said; "I cannot live without thee; all through the long years I too have loved thee, Morva, ever since that day when I tore myself from thy clinging arms and heard thee crying after me; but because I was away, and could not tell thee of my love, I have lost thee." "I have promised," was all her answer.
"Well, then, I suppose there is nothing else to be said, and I must live without thee; but 'twill be hard, very hard, lass.

I thought--I thought--but there; what's the use of thinking?
I suppose I must say 'Good-bye.' Wilt give me one kiss before we part?
No?
Well, indeed, an unwilling kiss from Morva would kill me, so fforwel, lass! At least shake hands." Morva turned towards him, placing her hand in his, and by the bright moonlight he saw her face was very pale.
"Fforwel!" he said once more, and dropping her hand, he left her suddenly, standing alone under the night sky.

She looked after him until he had passed round the Cribserth, and then turned homewards with a heavier heart than she had ever borne before.
"'As the sparks fly upward!'" she whispered, as she reached the cottage door, "Yes, mother was right, 'as the sparks fly upward!'".