按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Sunday。'
'And you are … ' said I。
'The master's niece！' said the girl。 'How came you to know it？
But why did you not go with the rest and with your friends？'
'Who are those you call my friends？' said I。
'Peter and his wife。'
'And who are they？' said I。
'Do you not know？' said the girl； 'you came with them。'
'They found me ill by the way；' said I； 'and they relieved me： I
know nothing about them。'
'I thought you knew everything；' said the girl。
'There are two or three things which I do not know； and this is one
of them。 Who are they？'
'Did you never hear of the great Welsh preacher； Peter Williams？'
'Never；' said I。
'Well；' said the girl； 'this is he； and Winifred is his wife； and a
nice person she is。 Some people say； indeed； that she is as good a
preacher as her husband； though of that matter I can say nothing；
having never heard her preach。 So these two wander over all Wales
and the greater part of England； comforting the hearts of the
people with their doctrine； and doing all the good they can。 They
frequently come here； for the mistress is a Welsh woman； and an old
friend of both； and then they take up their abode in the cart
beneath the old oaks down there by the stream。'
'And what is their reason for doing so？' said I； 'would it not be
more comfortable to sleep beneath a roof？'
'I know not their reasons；' said the girl； 'but so it is； they
never sleep beneath a roof unless the weather is very severe。 I
once heard the mistress say that Peter had something heavy upon his
mind； perhaps that is the cause。 If he is unhappy； all I can say
is； that I wish him otherwise； for he is a good man and a kind … '
'Thank you；' said I； 'I will now depart。'
'Hem！' said the girl； 'I was wishing … '
'What？ to ask me a question？'
'Not exactly； but you seem to know everything； you mentioned； I
think； fortune…telling。'
'Do you wish me to tell your fortune？'
'By no means； but I have a friend at a distance at sea； and I
should wish to know … '
'When he will come back？ I have told you already there are two or
three things which I do not know … this is another of them。
However； I should not be surprised if he were to come back some of
these days； I would if I were in his place。 In the meantime be
patient； attend to the dairy； and read the DAIRYMAN'S DAUGHTER when
you have nothing better to do。'
It was late in the evening when the party of the morning returned。
The farmer and his family repaired at once to their abode； and my
two friends joined me beneath the tree。 Peter sat down at the foot
of the oak； and said nothing。 Supper was brought by a servant； not
the damsel of the porch。 We sat round the tray； Peter said grace；
but scarcely anything else； he appeared sad and dejected； his wife
looked anxiously upon him。 I was as silent as my friends； after a
little time we retired to our separate places of rest。
About midnight I was awakened by a noise； I started up and
listened； it appeared to me that I heard voices and groans。 In a
moment I had issued from my tent … all was silent … but the next
moment I again heard groans and voices； they proceeded from the
tilted cart where Peter and his wife lay； I drew near； again there
was a pause； and then I heard the voice of Peter； in an accent of
extreme anguish； exclaim； 'Pechod Ysprydd Glan … O pechod Ysprydd
Glan！' and then he uttered a deep groan。 Anon； I heard the voice
of Winifred； and never shall I forget the sweetness and gentleness
of the tones of her voice in the stillness of that night。 I did
not understand all she said … she spoke in her native language； and
I was some way apart； she appeared to endeavour to console her
husband； but he seemed to refuse all comfort； and； with many
groans； repeated … 'Pechod Ysprydd Glan … O pechod Ysprydd Glan！'
I felt I had no right to pry into their afflictions； and retired。
Now 'pechod Ysprydd Glan；' interpreted； is the sin against the Holy
Ghost。
CHAPTER LXXIV
The following day … Pride … Thriving trade … Tylwyth Teg … Ellis
Wyn … Sleeping hard … Incalculable good … Fearful agony … The tale。
PETER and his wife did not proceed on any expedition during the
following day。 The former strolled gloomily about the fields； and
the latter passed many hours in the farmhouse。 Towards evening；
without saying a word to either； I departed with my vehicle； and
finding my way to a small town at some distance； I laid in a store
of various articles； with which I returned。 It was night； and my
two friends were seated beneath the oak； they had just completed
their frugal supper。 'We waited for thee some time；' said
Winifred； 'but； finding that thou didst not come； we began without
thee； but sit down； I pray thee； there is still enough for thee。'
'I will sit down；' said I； 'but I require no supper； for I have
eaten where I have been'： nothing more particular occurred at the
time。 Next morning the kind pair invited me to share their
breakfast。 'I will not share your breakfast；' said I。 'Wherefore
not？' said Winifred； anxiously。 'Because；' said I； 'it is not
proper that I be beholden to you for meat and drink。' 'But we are
beholden to other people；' said Winifred。 'Yes；' said I； 'but you
preach to them； and give them ghostly advice； which considerably
alters the matter； not that I would receive anything from them； if
I preached to them six times a day。' 'Thou art not fond of
receiving favours； then； young man；' said Winifred。 'I am not；'
said I。 'And of conferring favours？' 'Nothing affords me greater
pleasure；' said I； 'than to confer favours。' 'What a disposition；'
said Winifred； holding up her hands； 'and this is pride； genuine
pride … that feeling which the world agrees to call so noble。 Oh；
how mean a thing is pride！ never before did I see all the meanness
of what is called pride！'
'But how wilt thou live； friend；' said Peter； 'dost thou not intend
to eat？' 'When I went out last night；' said I； 'I laid in a
provision。' 'Thou hast laid in a provision！' said Peter； 'pray let
us see it。 Really； friend；' said he； after I had produced it；
'thou must drive a thriving trade； here are provisions enough to
last three people for several days。 Here are butter and eggs； here
is tea； here is sugar； and there is a flitch。 I hope thou wilt let
us partake of some of thy fare。' 'I should be very happy if you
would；' said I。 'Doubt not but we shall；' said Peter； 'Winifred
shall have some of thy flitch cooked for dinner。 In the meantime；
sit down； young man； and breakfast at our expense … we will dine at
thine。'
On the evening of that day； Peter and myself sat alone beneath the
oak。 We fell into conversation； Peter was at first melancholy； but
he soon became more cheerful； fluent； and entertaining。 I spok