probably have spoken out at once with the splendid honesty
characteristic of her nation, but Gwenda, being a thorough Welshwoman,
acted differently. With what detractors of the Celtic character would
probably call "craftiness," but what we prefer to call "tact and
tenderness," she determined not to ruffle the existing happy state of
affairs by risking a misunderstanding with her lover, but would rather
wait until, as a wife, she could bring the whole influence of her own
honest nature to bear upon this weak trait in his character.

A few days later the announcement of his approaching marriage reached
Garthowen, in a letter from Will himself, enclosing the unposted
missive, which he had discovered in his pocket as he drove to Nantmyny
on the previous Sunday.

It pacified the old man somewhat, but nothing availed to lift the cloud
which had fallen upon his life; and the intimation of the near approach
of his son's marriage with "a lady" coming upon him as it did
unexpectedly, was the climax of his depression of spirits. He sat in
the chimney-corner and brooded, repeating to himself occasionally in a
low voice:

"Gone! gone! Both my boys gone from me for ever!"

Ann and Gwilym's arguments were quite unheeded. Morva's sympathy alone
seemed to have any consoling effect upon him. She would kneel beside
him with her elbows on his knees, looking up into his face, and with
make-believe cheerfulness would reason with a woman's inconsequence,
fearlessly deducing results from causes which had no existence.

"'Tis as plain as the sun in the sky, 'n'wncwl Ebben bâch! Gethin is