“I am afraid we shall be obliged to do so, sister.”
“I am so sorry to hear you say so.”
“I am sorry too, to break the news to you. The thought of leaving our dear home almost breaks my heart.”
“I had hoped, Cadwgan, never to say adieu to the abode of our beloved parents, though the void created by our sad bereavement can never be filled up. But, if we must leave, whither shall we go?”
“At present, my darling sister, I know not where we shall have to pitch our tent; but our heavenly Father, in His good providence, will, if we trust Him, provide for us a shelter.”
“I do love and trust Him, my dear brother; but, oh, at this moment, the future appears to me dark and beamless. I fail to see even a fringe of the cloud with a silver lining.”
“But if we look to the light, our future may still be bright and joyous; as will be the appearance of yonder vale when the dark cloud you see up there passes away. In a few minutes this sylvan dell will be lighted up by the golden beams of the morning sun.”
“Look, brother, look! The cloud is rapidly moving on its journey. The rays of the king of day will soon fall upon and penetrate both woodland and brake, warming and cheering the dwellers in mossy beds and grassy mounds, imparting hope and joy to all.”
“So may it be with us, dear Gwenfan. When we least expect aid from on high, that aid comes, and at once the darkness and gloom are chased away.”
But here his sister called her brother’s attention to a lady driving a pony carriage. “I declare,” she said, “the lady is coming to the villa. See! see! her servant has opened the entrance gate at the bottom of the lawn. Oh, who can she be? Do you expect any one to visit us, brother?”