the doom of the griffiths-第3章

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was　too　much　of　a　Welsh　squire　to　dream　of　the　moral　necessity；　and

he　himself　had　not　sufficient　strength　of　mind　to　decide　at　once　upon

abandoning　a　place　and　mode　of　life　which　abounded　in　daily

mortifications；　yet　to　this　course　his　judgment　was　slowly　tending；

when　some　circumstances　occurred　to　detain　him　at　Bodowen。



It　was　not　to　be　expected　that　harmony　would　long　be　preserved；　even

in　appearance；　between　an　unguarded　and　soured　young　man；　such　as

Owen；　and　his　wary　stepmother；　when　he　had　once　left　college；　and

come；　not　as　a　visitor；　but　as　the　heir　to　his　father's　house。　　Some

cause　of　difference　occurred；　where　the　woman　subdued　her　hidden

anger　sufficiently　to　become　convinced　that　Owen　was　not　entirely　the

dupe　she　had　believed　him　to　be。　　Henceforward　there　was　no　peace

between　them。　　Not　in　vulgar　altercations　did　this　show　itself；　but

in　moody　reserve　on　Owen's　part；　and　in　undisguised　and　contemptuous

pursuance　of　her　own　plans　by　his　stepmother。　　Bodowen　was　no　longer

a　place　where；　if　Owen　was　not　loved　or　attended　to；　he　could　at

least　find　peace；　and　care　for　himself：　　he　was　thwarted　at　every

step；　and　in　every　wish；　by　his　father's　desire；　apparently；　while

the　wife　sat　by　with　a　smile　of　triumph　on　her　beautiful　lips。



So　Owen　went　forth　at　the　early　day　dawn；　sometimes　roaming　about　on

the　shore　or　the　upland；　shooting　or　fishing；　as　the　season　might　be；

but　oftener　〃stretched　in　indolent　repose〃　on　the　short；　sweet　grass；

indulging　in　gloomy　and　morbid　reveries。　　He　would　fancy　that　this

mortified　state　of　existence　was　a　dream；　a　horrible　dream；　from

which　he　should　awake　and　find　himself　again　the　sole　object　and

darling　of　his　father。　　And　then　he　would　start　up　and　strive　to

shake　off　the　incubus。　　There　was　the　molten　sunset　of　his　childish

memory；　the　gorgeous　crimson　piles　of　glory　in　the　west；　fading　away

into　the　cold　calm　light　of　the　rising　moon；　while　here　and　there　a

cloud　floated　across　the　western　heaven；　like　a　seraph's　wing；　in　its

flaming　beauty；　the　earth　was　the　same　as　in　his　childhood's　days；

full　of　gentle　evening　sounds；　and　the　harmonies　of　twilightthe

breeze　came　sweeping　low　over　the　heather　and　blue…bells　by　his　side；

and　the　turf　was　sending　up　its　evening　incense　of　perfume。　　But

life；　and　heart；　and　hope　were　changed　for　ever　since　those　bygone

days！



Or　he　would　seat　himself　in　a　favourite　niche　of　the　rocks　on　Moel

Gest；　hidden　by　a　stunted　growth　of　the　whitty；　or　mountain…ash；　from

general　observation；　with　a　rich…tinted　cushion　of　stone…crop　for　his

feet；　and　a　straight　precipice　of　rock　rising　just　above。　　Here　would

he　sit　for　hours；　gazing　idly　at　the　bay　below　with　its　back…ground

of　purple　hills；　and　the　little　fishing…sail　on　its　bosom；　showing

white　in　the　sunbeam；　and　gliding　on　in　such　harmony　with　the　quiet

beauty　of　the　glassy　sea；　or　he　would　pull　out　an　old　school…volume；

his　companion　for　years；　and　in　morbid　accordance　with　the　dark

legend　that　still　lurked　in　the　recesses　of　his　minda　shape　of

gloom　in　those　innermost　haunts　awaiting　its　time　to　come　forth　in

distinct　outlinewould　he　turn　to　the　old　Greek　dramas　which　treat

of　a　family　foredoomed　by　an　avenging　Fate。　　The　worn　page　opened　of

itself　at　the　play　of　the　OEdipus　Tyrannus；　and　Owen　dwelt　with　the

craving　disease　upon　the　prophecy　so　nearly　resembling　that　which

concerned　himself。　　With　his　consciousness　of　neglect；　there　was　a

sort　of　self…flattery　in　the　consequence　which　the　legend　gave　him。

He　almost　wondered　how　they　durst；　with　slights　and　insults；　thus

provoke　the　Avenger。



The　days　drifted　onward。　　Often　he　would　vehemently　pursue　some

sylvan　sport；　till　thought　and　feeling　were　lost　in　the　violence　of

bodily　exertion。　　Occasionally　his　evenings　were　spent　at　a　small

public…house；　such　as　stood　by　the　unfrequented　wayside；　where　the

welcome；　hearty；　though　bought；　seemed　so　strongly　to　contrast　with

the　gloomy　negligence　of　homeunsympathising　home。



One　evening　（Owen　might　be　four　or　five…and…twenty）；　wearied　with　a

day's　shooting　on　the　Clenneny　Moors；　he　passed　by　the　open　door　of

〃The　Goat〃　at　Penmorfa。　　The　light　and　the　cheeriness　within　tempted

him；　poor　self…exhausted　man！　as　it　has　done　many　a　one　more　wretched

in　worldly　circumstances；　to　step　in；　and　take　his　evening　meal　where

at　least　his　presence　was　of　some　consequence。　　It　was　a　busy　day　in

that　little　hostel。　　A　flock　of　sheep；　amounting　to　some　hundreds；

had　arrived　at　Penmorfa；　on　their　road　to　England；　and　thronged　the

space　before　the　house。　　Inside　was　the　shrewd；　kind…hearted　hostess；

bustling　to　and　fro；　with　merry　greetings　for　every　tired　drover　who

was　to　pass　the　night　in　her　house；　while　the　sheep　were　penned　in　a

field　close　by。　　Ever　and　anon；　she　kept　attending　to　the　second

crowd　of　guests；　who　were　celebrating　a　rural　wedding　in　her　house。

It　was　busy　work　to　Martha　Thomas；　yet　her　smile　never　flagged；　and

when　Owen　Griffiths　had　finished　his　evening　meal　she　was　there；

ready　with　a　hope　that　it　had　done　him　good；　and　was　to　his　mind；　and

a　word　of　intelligence　that　the　wedding…folk　were　about　to　dance　in

the　kitchen；　and　the　harper　was　the　famous　Edward　of　Corwen。



Owen；　partly　from　good…natured　compliance　with　his　hostess's　implied

wish；　and　partly　from　curiosity；　lounged　to　the　passage　which　led　to

the　kitchennot　the　every…day；　working；　cooking　kitchen；　which　was

behind；　but　a　good…sized　room；　where　the　mistress　sat；　when　her　work

was　done；　and　where　the　country　people　were　commonly　entertained　at

such　merry…makings　as　the　present。　　The　lintels　of　the　door　formed　a

frame　for　the　animated　picture　which　Owen　saw　within；　as　he　leaned

against　the　wall　in　the　dark　passage。　　The　red　light　of　the　fire；

with　every　now　and　then　a　falling　piece　of　turf　sending　forth　a　fresh

blaze；　shone　full　upon　four　young　men　who　were　dancing　a　measure

something　like　a　Scotch　reel；　keeping　admirable　time　in　their　rapid

movements　to　the　capital　tune　the　harper　was　playing。　　They　had　their

hats　on　when　Owen　first　took　his　stand；　but　as　they　grew　more　and

more　animated　they　flung　them　away；　and　presently　their　shoes　were

kicked　off　with　like　disregard　to　the　spot　where　they　might　happen　to

alight。　　Shouts　of　applause　followed　any　remarkable　exertion　of

agility；　in　which　each　seemed　to　try　to　excel　his　companions。　　At

length；　wearied　and　exhausted；　they　sat　down；　and　the　harper

gradually　changed　to　one　of　those　wild；　inspiring　national　airs　for

which　he　was　so　famous。　　The　thronged　audience　sat　earnest　and

breathless；　and　you　might　have　heard　a　pin　drop；　except　when　some

maiden　passed　hurriedly；　with　flaring　candle　and　busy　look；　through

to　the　real　kitchen　beyond。　　When　he　had　finished　his　beautiful　theme

on　〃The　March　of　the　men　of　Harlech；〃　he　changed　the　measure　again　to

〃Tri　chant　o'　bunnan〃　（Three　hundred　pounds）；　and　immediately　a　most

unmusical…looking　man　began　chanting　〃Pennillion；〃　or　a　sort　of

recitative　stanzas；　which　were　soon　taken　up　by　another；　and　this

amusement　lasted　so　long　that　Owen　grew　weary；　and　was　thinking　of

retreating　from　his　post　by　the　door；　when　some　little　bustle　was

occasioned；　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　room；　by　the　entrance　of　a

middle…aged　man；　and　a　young　girl；　apparently　his　daughter。　　The　man

advanced　to　the　bench　occupied　by　the　seniors　of　the　party；　who

welcomed　him　with　the　usual　pretty　Welsh　greeting；　〃Pa　sut　mae　dy

galon？〃　（〃How　is　thy　heart？〃）　and　drinking　his　health　passed　on　to

him　the　cup　of　excellent　cwrw。　　The　girl；　evidently　a　village　belle；

was　as　warmly　greeted　by　the　young　men；　while　the　girls　eyed　her

rather　askance　with　a　half…jealous　look；　which　Owen　set　down　to　the

score　of　her　extreme　prettiness。　　Like　most　Welsh　women；　she　was　of

middle　size　as　to　height；　but　beautifully　made；　with　the　most　perfect

yet　delicate　roundness　in　every　limb。　　Her　little　mob…cap　was

carefully　adjusted　to　a　face　which　was　excessively　pretty；　though　it

never　could　be　called　handsome。　　It　also　was　round；　with　the

slightest　tendency　to　the　oval　shape；　richly　coloured；　though

somewhat　olive　in　complexion；　with　dimples　in　cheek　and　chin；　and　the

most　scarlet　lips　Owen　had　ever　seen；　that　were　too　short　to　meet

over　the　small　pearly　teeth。　　The　nose　was　the　most　defective

feature；　but　the　eyes　were　splendid。　　They　were　so　long；　so　lustrous；

yet　at　times　so　very　soft　under　their　thick　fringe　of　eyelash！　　The

nut…brown　hair　was　carefully　braided　beneath　the　border　of　delicate

lace：　　it　was　evident　the　little　village　beauty　knew　how　to　make　the

most　of　all　her　attractions；　for　the　gay　colours　which　were　displayed

in　her　neckerchief　were　in　complete　harmony　with　the　complexion。



Owen　was　much　attracted；　while　yet　he　was　amused；　by　the　evident

coquetry　the　girl　displayed；　collecting　around　her　a　whole　bevy　of

young　fellows；　for　each　of　whom　she　seemed　to　have　some　gay　speech；

some　attractive　look　or　action。　　In　a　few　minutes　young　Griffiths　of

Bodowen　was　at　her　side；　brought　thither　by　a　variety　of　idle

motives；　and　as　her　undivided　attention　was　given　to　the　Welsh　heir；

her　admirers；　one　by　one；　dropped　off；　to　seat　themselves　by　some

less　fascinating　but　more　attentive　fair　one。　　The　more　Owen

conversed　with　the　girl；　the　more　he　was　taken；　she　had　more　wit　and

talent　than　he　had　fancied　possible；　a　self…abandon　and

thoughtfulness；　to　boot；　that　seemed　full　of　charms；　and　then　her

voice　was　so　clear　and　sweet；　and　her　actions　so　full　of　grace；　that

Owen　was　fascinated　before　he　was　well　aware；　and　kept　looking　into

her　bright；　blushing　face；　till　her　uplifted　flashing　eye　fell

beneath　his　earnest　gaze。



While　it　thus　happened　that　they　were　silentshe　from　confusion　at

the　unexpected　warmth　of　his　admiration；　he　from　an　unconsciousness

of　anything　but　the　beautiful　changes　in　her　flexile　countenancethe

man　whom　Owen　took　for　her　father　came　up　and　addressed　some

observation　to　his　daughter；　from　whence　he　glided　into　some

commonplace　though　respectful　remark　to　Owen；　and　at　length　engaging

him　in　some　slight；　local　conversation；　he　led　the　way　to　the　account

of　a　spot　on　the　peninsula　of　Penthryn；　where　teal　abounded；　and

concluded　with　begging　Owen　to　allow　him　to　show　him　the　exact　place；

saying　that　whenever　the　young　Squire　felt　so　inclined；　if　he　would

honour　him　by　a　call　at　his　house；　he　would　take　him　across　in　his

boat。　　While　Owen　listened；　his　attention　was　not　so　much　absorbed　as

to　be　unaware　that　the　little　beauty　at　his　side　was　refusing　one　or

two　who　endeavoured　to　draw　her　from　her　place　by　invitations　to

dance。　　Flattered　by　his　own　construction　of　her　refusals；　he　again

directed　all　his　attention　to　her；　till　she　was　called　away　by　her

father；　who　was　leaving　the　scene　of　festivity。　　Before　he　left　he

reminded　Owen　of　his　promise；　and　added　…



〃Perhaps；　sir；　you　do　not　know　me。　　My　n