"He has not forgotten his pleasant manners, whatever," said the men, as
he greeted them all with his usual frank and genial smile.
"No; nor he hasn't lost his good looks," said the women. "Though,
indeed, his heart must be heavy now, druan bâch."
"Well," said the Vicar next morning, as Cardo drove off to Caer Madoc
to catch the train at the nearest station, "I mustn't grumble at losing
him so soon; he is doing the right thing, poor fellow, and I hope in my
heart he may find his wife and bring her home. What a happy party we
shall be! The only thorn in my flesh will be Essec Powell; I don't
think I can ever get over my dislike to that man."
"Oh, nonsense," said his brother, "let us all three go up there to-day,
and take the bull by the horns, and make friends with him."
And after breakfast, the Vicar, though with a bad grace, buttoned up
his long black coat, and took his way, accompanied by his brother and
his wife, up the steep path to Dinas.
It was an early hour certainly, not yet eleven o'clock; but "calling"
was unknown at Abersethin, and it was not the unseasonableness of the
hour which made Shoni stare as the three visitors entered the "clos" or
farm-yard.
"Well, diwedd anwl!" he said, barely escaping an oath, "here's the
'Vicare du'! I know him by his coat tails, and his tallow face, and no
doubt that is Lewis Wynne and his wife with him;" (for village gossip
had already spread abroad the news of the arrivals at Brynderyn).
"Well, indeed," he continued, "the preacher on Sunday night told us the
end of the world was coming, and now I believe it!" and he put down his
wheel-barrow, and stood stock still while the visitors approached.
"Borau-da!" said the Vicare, in a constrained voice.
"Borau-da," was all Shoni's answer, and seeing a dogged look come into
his face, Lewis Wynne took the lead in the conversation.
"How are you, Shoni? Do you remember the jolly day we had, you and I,
out fishing when we ought to have been at school?"
"Yes, I do indeed, sir, and the lot of fish we caught."
"Yes, and the thrashing we got for it afterwards! But we want to see
your master, Shoni."
"Essec Powell?"
"Yes--Essec Powell, is he too busy?"
Shoni hid his face behind his sleeve, while he indulged in a cackle.
"Has he company, then?"
"Oh, very good company--plenty of company! he got Taliesin--Owen
Glyndwr--Iolo Morganwg and all the rest of them! and he's quite happy
in their company. But once he comes down to live with us he's as rough
and prickly as a birch-broom. Indeed he wass nevver used to be like
this whatever; 'tis ever since his brother John die, and leave all his
money to Valmai."