Part 8 (2/2)
”And art thou a Welchman, old soldier?” she cried.
”Many years have I wandered,” the stranger replied: ”'Twixt Danube and Thames many rivers there be, But the bright waves of Cynfael are fairest to me.
”I felled the grey oak, ere I hastened to roam, And I fas.h.i.+oned a bench for the door of my home; And well my dear sister my labour repaid, Who gave me three kisses when first it was made.
”In the old English soldier thy brother appears: Here is gold in abundance, the saving of years: Give me oatcake and milk in return for my store, And a seat by thy side on the bench at the door.”
Various other songs succeeded, which, as we are not composing a song book, we shall lay aside for the present.
An old squire, who had not missed one of these anniversaries, during more than half a century, now stood up, and filling a half-pint b.u.mper, p.r.o.nounced, with a stentorian voice--”To the immortal memory of Headlong Ap-Rhaiader, and to the health of his n.o.ble descendant and worthy representative!” This example was followed by all the gentlemen present. The harp struck up a triumphal strain; and, the old squire already mentioned, vociferating the first stave, they sang, or rather roared, the following
CHORUS
Hail to the Headlong! the Headlong Ap-Headlong!
All hail to the Headlong, the Headlong Ap-Headlong!
The Headlong Ap-Headlong Ap-Breakneck Ap-Headlong Ap-Cataract Ap-Pistyll Ap-Rhaiader Ap-Headlong!
The bright bowl we steep in the name of the Headlong: Let the youths pledge it deep to the Headlong Ap-Headlong, And the rosy-lipped la.s.ses Touch the brim as it pa.s.ses, And kiss the red tide for the Headlong Ap-Headlong!
The loud harp resounds in the hall of the Headlong: The light step rebounds in the hall of the Headlong: Where shall music invite us, Or beauty delight us, If not in the hall of the Headlong Ap-Headlong?
Huzza! to the health of the Headlong Ap-Headlong!
Fill the bowl, fill in floods, to the health of the Headlong!
Till the stream ruby-glowing, On all sides o'erflowing, Shall fall in cascades to the health of the Headlong!
The Headlong Ap-Headlong Ap-Breakneck Ap-Headlong Ap-Cataract Ap-Pistyll Ap-Rhaiader Ap-Headlong!
Squire Headlong returned thanks with an appropriate libation, and the company re-adjourned to the ballroom, where they kept it up till sunrise, when the little butler summoned them to breakfast.
CHAPTER XIV The Proposals
The chorus which celebrated the antiquity of her lineage, had been ringing all night in the ears of Miss Brindle-mew Grimalkin Phoebe Tabitha Ap-Headlong, when, taking the squire aside, while the visitors were sipping their tea and coffee, ”Nephew Harry,” said she, ”I have been noting your behaviour, during the several stages of the ball and supper; and, though I cannot tax you with any want of gallantry, for you are a very gallant young man, Nephew Harry, very gallant--I wish I could say as much for every one” (added she, throwing a spiteful look towards a distant corner, where Mr Jenkison was sitting with great _nonchalance_, and at the moment dipping a rusk in a cup of chocolate); ”but I lament to perceive that you were at least as pleased with your lakes of milk-punch, and your bottles of Champagne and Burgundy, as with any of your delightful partners. Now, though I can readily excuse this degree of incombustibility in the descendant of a family so remarkable in all ages for personal beauty as ours, yet I lament it exceedingly, when I consider that, in conjunction with your present predilection for the easy life of a bachelor, it may possibly prove the means of causing our ancient genealogical tree, which has its roots, if I may so speak, in the foundations of the world, to terminate suddenly in a point: unless you feel yourself moved by my exhortations to follow the example of all your ancestors, by choosing yourself a fitting and suitable helpmate to immortalize the pedigree of Headlong Ap-Rhaiader.”
”Egad!” said Squire Headlong, ”that is very true, I'll marry directly.
A good opportunity to fix on some one, now they are all here; and I'll pop the question without further ceremony.”
”What think you,” said the old lady, ”of Miss Nanny Glen-Du, the lineal descendant of Llewelyn Ap-Yorwerth?”
”She won't do,” said Squire Headlong.
”What say you, then,” said the lady, ”to Miss Williams, of Pontyglasrhydyrallt, the descendant of the ancient family of----?”
”I don't like her,” said Squire Headlong; ”and as to her ancient family, that is a matter of no consequence. I have antiquity enough for two. They are all moderns, people of yesterday, in comparison with us. What signify six or seven centuries, which are the most they can make up?”
”Why, to be sure,” said the aunt, ”on that view of the question, it is no consequence. What think you, then, of Miss Owen, of Nidd-y-Gygfraen? She will have six thousand a year.”
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