Cardo, it's me; it's only
me, whatever!" she was folded in his arms, and pressed so close to his
heart that her breath came and went in a gasp half of fright and half
of delight.

"Gracious heavens! What does it mean?" he said, holding her at arms'
length. "My own little wild sea-bird! My little white dove! My
darling, my wife! Where have you flown from? How are you here?"

They were interrupted by a thundering knock on the floor above them.
Cardo started. "What is that?" he said.

Valmai laughed as she somewhat regained her composure.

"It is Uncle John," she said. "Wait while I run up to him, and then I
will come back and explain everything."

"Uncle John!" said Cardo in bewilderment, as he saw through the doorway
the graceful white figure flit up the narrow stairs. "Uncle John! Can
that be Captain Powell? Of course, old Essec's brother, no doubt. I
have heard they are Pembrokeshire people."

"Well, how is he getting on?" said the old man, as Valmai entered
blushing.

"Oh, all right, uncle! there isn't much of the fowl left, so I'm sure
he enjoyed it."

"That's raight, may gel, that's raight. Now make him as comfortable as
you can. May jar of tobacco is down there somewhere, and there's a
bottle of whisky in the corner cupboard. Ay hear Jim Harris coming to
the door; now don't disturb me any more, and tell Mr. Gwyn Ay'll be
happy to see him tomorrow. Now, mind, no larks."

"No what?" said Valmai, with puckered eyebrows.

"Larks, larks! Don't you know what 'larks' are, child? Ay bet you do,
with that pretty face of yours."

Valmai still looked puzzled.

"Well, 'high jinks,' then; flirtation, then; will that suit your
ladyship?"

"Oh, flirtation! Very well, uncle, good-night." And after a kiss and
another "good gel," Valmai passed Jim at the doorway, and went slowly
downstairs.

Cardo stood at the bottom awaiting her with wide open arms.

"Come, come, Valmai; how slow you are, fanwylyd. I am waiting for you.
What made you step so slowly down the stairs?" he said, as he drew her
towards him; "you should have flown, dearest."

"I was thinking," said Valmai.

"And of what?"

"Thinking whether I had told uncle an untruth. He said, 'no
flirtations,' 'larks;' he called it; and I said, 'Very well, uncle,'
and I was wondering whether husband and wife could flirt."

Cardo laughed heartily.

"Come and sit by me, Valmai," he said, "and let us see. Come and
explain to me how, in th