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At length the pale dawn drew near, and Morva slept a heavy dreamless sleep, which lasted till Ann called her for the churning. Cowhouse. "Morva, lass," said Ann, "what's the matter to-day? No breakfast; after thy work at the churn, too?" "Well, indeed," said Morva, "I drank so much butter milk that I don't want much breakfast." "Come, lass," said Ebben Owens, "hard work wants good feeding."
He knew as well as his son did that it would be useless to try and persuade his servants to be absent from the meetings, and the knowledge galled him bitterly, too bitterly for words, so he was silent; and Cardo, knowing his humour, said nothing to Dye and Ebben of his father's wishes.
"Tell me first, can'st forgive me my shameful sin? Everybody is forgiving me too easy, much too easy, I know. 'Tis only one will be always remembering, and that is me." "I am not surprised at that, and I am glad to hear those words from thee," said Sara, "but my forgiveness, Ebben bâch, is as full and free as I believe thy repentance is deep."
In the excitement of the moment her change of countenance escaped the notice of the other members of the family. "Gone," said Will, "gone where? What do you mean, man? Stolen?" "Yes, no doubt, for the window and the drawer were open." "The window?" said Ebben Owens. "Then the thief must have come in that way." "And gone out, too, I suppose," said Gwilym. "Tis that devil, Gryffy Lewis," said Will.
"Very cheap, too," said the vicar, drawing out the two sovereigns from his waistcoat pocket. Leaving the pen in charge of a friend, Ebben Owens accompanied Mr. Price in a state of joyful bewilderment.
After the vicar was gone, Will accompanying him half a mile down the road, the whole family were loud in his praise. "There's a man now!" said Ebben Owens; "if every clergyman was like him 'twould be a good thing for the Church.
Ebben Owens sat down on the wheel-barrow on purpose to rub his knees, and Gethin's eyes sparkled with pleasure, but he looked round in vain for Morva. Some new-born shyness had overwhelmed her to-day; she could not make up her mind to meet Gethin. She had longed for the meeting so much, and now that it was within her reach, she put the joy away from her, with the nervous indecision of a child.
"Well, well!" said Ebben Owens, "'tis disappointing, but Will knows best; no doubt he's right, and thee must find someone else, Ann. I wish Gethin was here," the old man said, with a sigh.
It was tea-time when she reached Garthowen, and, winter or summer, that was always the pleasantest hour at the farmstead, when the air was filled with the aroma of the hot tea, and the laughter and talk of the household. On the settle in the cosy chimney corner sat Ebben Owens himself, the head of the family and the centre of interest to every member of it.
"I think, indeed, you are too hard upon that poor fellow,", he said; "he may return to you some day like the prodigal son. Don't forget that, Ebben Owens " "Oh, I don't forget that," said the old man; "and when he comes home in the same temper as the son we read of, then we'll kill for him the fatted calf." "Look in his mother's Bible," said the old man, "and you'll see his last sin."