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She could not dissuade me from starting for Carnarvon at once; and, as I would go, she seemed to take it as a matter of course that she must accompany me. Our journey was partly by coach and partly afoot. My first impulse on nearing Carnarvon was to go I could not have said why to Llanbeblig churchyard.
At last she said, 'I mind comin' here wonst with Winnie, and I mind her sayin': "There's no place I should so much like to be buried in as Llanbeblig churchyard. The graves of them as die unmarried do look so beautiful." 'How did she know the graves of those who die unmarried? Sinfi looked over the churchyard and waved her hand.
Is that story of hers true about her daughter and Llanbeblig churchyard? 'That's true enough, though she's a wunner at a lie: that's true enough. But as I spoke I heard a noise like the laugh or the shriek of a maniac. It seemed to come from upstairs. 'She's a-larfin' ag'in, said the girl. 'It's a very wicked larf, sir, ain't it?
Off to Carnarvon I goes, an' every futt o' the way I walks Lor' bless your soul, there worn't a better pair o' pins nowheres than Meg Gudgeon's then, afore the water got in 'em an' bust 'em; an' I got to Llanbeblig churchyard early one mornin', and there I seed the pore half-sharp gal. So you see I comed by 'er 'onest enough, p'leaceman, though she worn't ezzackly my own darter.
'What took me to Llanbeblig churchyard? exclaimed the woman, whose natural dogged courage seemed to be returning to her. 'What made me leave every fardin' I had in the world with Poll Onion, when we ommust wanted bread, an' go to Carnarvon on Shanks's pony? I sha'n't tell ye.
'Llanbeblig churchyard? I exclaimed, drawing close up to the bed. 'How came you in Llanbeblig churchyard? But then I remembered that, according to her own story, she had married a Welshman. 'How did I come in Llanbeblig churchyard? said the woman in a tone in which irony and fear were strangely mingled.
Gudgeon, I said, 'I only want you to tell a friend of mine about your daughter. 'Oh yis! a friend o' yourn! Another or two on ye in plain clothes behind the door, I dessay. An' pray who said the gal wur my darter? What for do you want to put words into the mouth of a hinicent dyin' woman? I comed by 'er 'onest enough. The pore half-starved thing came up to me in Llanbeblig churchyard.
'Well, p'leaceman, I don't mean to be sarcy: but seein' as all my pore dear 'usband's kith and kin o' the name o' Goodjohn was buried in Llanbeblig churchyard, p'raps you'll be kind enough to let me go there sometimes, an' p'raps be buried there when my time comes. 'But what took you there? I said.
She tookt and went from bad to wuss, bad to wuss; it's my belief as it's allus starvation as drives 'em to it; an' when she wur a-dyin' gal, she sez to me, "Mother," sez she, "I've got the smell o' Welsh vi'lets on me ag'in: I wants to be buried in Llanbeblig churchyard, among the Welsh child'n an' maids, mother.
'No use, brother, said Sinfi. 'If I han't pretty well worked Carnarvon, it's a pity. I've bin there the last three weeks on the patrin-chase, and not a patrin could I find. It's my belief as she never went into Carnarvon town at all, but turned off and went into Llanbeblig churchyard. 'Why do you think so, Sinfi?
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