Blair Collection > Rhys Lewis, minister of Bethel

MHYS LEWIS. 75
body to chapel, the last to leave the house would hide the door-
key under the water-tub, so that the first to return might gain
a speedy entrance to our castle. That was one of the family
secrets. As it was I who, of necessity, must be first home on this
night, I hurried along and just managed to be for a couple of
minutes seated before mother came in. Although nearly out of
breath, I endeavoured to appear as if I had been expecting
her for some time. I told her she had been very long coming.
" Every wait is a long one," was all her reply, made as she
hung her blue cloak and great bonnet on the nail behind the
door. Bob must have taken a turn with his companions after
leaving Communion, because supper had been some time pre-
pared before he came in. After long waiting, he made his
appearance, looking sad and dispirited. He sat down without
a word, and took up a book to read. It was not without much
coaxing that he came up to the supper-table, and I speedily saw
that neither he nor mother made much impression upon the
food. Having had a great load taken off my mind, so far as
the discipline of the church concerned me personally, and
reflecting that it would be a pity such good provision should go
to waste, I did my best to put as much of it out of sight as I
could. Supper over. Bob again took up his book, and mother
drew her chair nearer the fire. I knew from her manner that
she meant to start a conversation. She had a habit, when
gathering her thoughts together, of pleating her apron.
"Well, my son," she presently said, " this had been rather
a bad night in your and my history. Poor as I am, I would
rather than a hundred pounds if what took place to-night
hadn't happened."
Bob, who spoke a little more grammatically than mother,
said in reply : —
" I do not see, mother, why you should look at the matter in
that light. It will make no difference in my conduct. Being
in Communion does not guarantee a man's salvation, nor being
out of it his perdition."
"Ehys," said mother, turning to me, "you had better go to
bed."