Part 20 (1/2)
”Will at home and all,” she said, ”and everything going on so well--except, of course, 'tis dreadful about Gethin; but we have been used to his absence, father; and you never seemed to grieve about him.”
”No, no,” said her father, ”I have never grieved about him much, but lately I had got so fond of him; he was so kind to me, so merry he was, and so handsome, and always ready to help!” and again he would relapse into silence.
On market day he was very anxious to drive Will into Castell On.
”Come on, 'machgen i; I will give you a new waistcoat. Come and show yourself to Mr. Price and to all the young ladies. Be bound, if they were to see you in your cap and gown, not the highest among them but would be proud to shake hands with you!”
But Will declined the offer. Later in the day, however, he walked in alone, and only that sad angel, who surely records the bitter wounds inflicted by children upon the tender parent hearts, knew how sharp a stab entered the old man's soul; but next day he had ”got over it,” as the phrase is.
With a slow, dragging step Morva walked home on the evening of Will's arrival. He had nodded at her in a nonchalant manner, with a kindly, ”Well, Morva!” in pa.s.sing, just as he had done to Magw and Shan, but further than that had not spoken to her again, though his eyes followed her everywhere as she moved about her household duties.
”Prettier than ever!” he thought. ”My word! there is not one of the Llaniago young ladies fit to tie her shoe!”
As soon as the cows were milked and the short frosty day had ended, the moon rose clear and bright over the Cribserth.
”I am going to see Sara,” said Will, taking his hat off the peg in the blue painted pa.s.sage.
No one was surprised at that, for both Will and Gethin, ever since their mother's death, had been accustomed to run to Sara for sympathy with every pleasure or misfortune, and after being two months away it was quite natural that he should want to see her; so Morva had scarcely rounded the bend of the Cribserth before Will had caught her up. A little s.h.i.+ver ran through her as she recognised the step and the whistle which called her attention. It was Will, whom she once thought she had loved so truly, and the coldness which she had felt towards him of late was strangely mingled with remorse and tender memories as she turned and walked a few steps back to meet him.
”Stop, Morva; let me speak to thee. Give me thy hand, la.s.s. After so long a parting thou canst not deny me a kiss too.”
Ah, how sweet it was to return to the dear old Welsh, and the homely ”thee” and ”thou”!
”Art well, Will? But I need not ask. Indeed, there is life and health in thy very face.”
”Yes, I am well,” said Will, drawing her towards him. ”I am coming with thee to see Sara.”
”Yes, come,” said Morva.
”Art glad to see me, la.s.s?”
”Yes, indeed, I am very glad, whatever. Garthowen will be full again; it has been very empty lately.”
She was thinking of Gethin, unconsciously, perhaps, and hung her head a little guiltily when Will said:
”Thou didst miss me, then?”
”Of course we all missed thee--thy father especially.”
”More than thee, Morva?”
She sighed. ”'Tis this way, Will. I am tired of this secrecy. We grew up like brother and sister. Can't we remain like that? Don't ask me for more, and then thou canst rise as high as thou pleasest, and I will be always glad to see thee, and so proud to hear of thy getting on. Will, it will never do for a clergyman to marry his father's milkmaid!”
”Twt, twt,” said Will, ”let us not think of the future, la.s.s--the present is enough for me; and I promise thee not to allude to our marriage if thou wilt only meet me like this whenever I come home, and let me feel thee close to my heart as thou hast to-night.”
”But I will not,” said the girl suddenly, withdrawing herself from the arm which he had pa.s.sed round her waist.
”Why not?” he asked.
”Because,” said Morva, ”'tis only my promise to marry thee that makes me meet thee as I do, and deceive them all at Garthowen. Let me tell them how it is between us, Will.”
”What! Morva talk about her sweetheart as the English girls do! No, thou art too modest, la.s.s.”