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Once more to linger in the sunshine, and rest in the shade; to listen to the Berwen's prattling, to the whispering of the sea-breeze. Such happiness, she thought, was all in store for her when Cardo came home in September; and the words, "When Cardo comes home in September," rang in her ears, and filled her heart and soul.
"By Berwen's banks my love hath strayed," etc. The June roses bent down towards them, the trailing honeysuckle swept her cheek, and as the sunset faded and the clear moon rose in the sky their voices were low and tender. "I have seen so little of you lately, Valmai." "So little!" said the girl, in feigned astonishment. "Indeed you are a greedy man.
and she paused to peep into the pitcher, but finding it only half full, continued: "And as she carolled loud and clear The little birds flew down to hear." "By Berwen's banks the storm rose high," but the pitcher was full, so, resting it on her side, she carried it home, before Nance had caught her goat.
While she waited for the pitcher to fill, she sang, in sheer lightness of heart, the old ballad which not only floated on the air of Abersethin and its neighbourhood, but which she had heard her mother sing in the far-off land of her childhood. "By Berwen's banks my love has strayed For many a day through sun and shade,"
"By Berwen's banks the storm rose high, The swollen river rushing by! Beneath its waves my love was drowned And on its banks my love was found!" Suddenly he was aware of a cloaked figure walking about a hundred yards in front of him. "Who's that, I wonder?" he thought, and then, forgetting its existence, he continued his song: "I'll ne'er forget that leafy shade!
You sing, dear." "Well, I'll sing that, if you won't." And she sang it; and Valmai and Cardo, "so near and yet so far," estranged and miserable, listened to every word, which fell on their memories like searing drops of molten lead. "By Berwen's banks my love has strayed For many a day in sun and shade; And when she carolled loud and clear The little birds flew down to hear.
"By Berwen's banks the storm rode high, The swollen river rushing by; And in its waves my love was drowned, And on its banks my love was found. "I'll ne'er forget that leafy shade, I'll ne'er forget that winsome maid; But there no more she carols free, So Berwen's banks are sad to me!" At the last words, during the acclamations of the family, Valmai rose, unable to bear more.
The evening air was very still, but an occasional strain of the band he had left behind him reached his ears, and with a musical voice he hummed the old Welsh air which came fitfully on the breeze: "By Berwen's banks my love hath strayed, For many a day in sun and shade; And while she carols loud and clear, The little birds fly down to hear.
I'll ne'er forget that winsome maid! But there no more she carols free, So Berwen's banks are sad to me!" By and by, at a curve in the road, he again noticed the figure in front of him, and quickened his steps; but it did the same, and the distance between them was not lessened, so Cardo gave it up, and continued his song.
"Yes, rather, may dear; but you are not reading as well as usual;" and she wasn't, for in truth she was casting about in her mind for a good opening for her confession to her uncle. "Suppose you sing me a song, may dear!" And she tried "By Berwen's banks my love hath strayed For many a day in sun and shade, And as she carolled loud and clear The little birds flew down to hear."
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