Blair Collection > Rhys Lewis, minister of Bethel

172 RHYS LEWIS.
that Bob would arrive by next train, dne three hours Ir.ter.
I went home crestfallen. Long before reaching the house, I
saw mother in the doorway expecting us. On seeing me alone,
she fled inside. Her disappointment was sore. I told her the
colliers were certain he would come by next train. The cake
was left -unbroken and the kettle, which had boiled dry, was
refilled. I went to meet the train a second time, and found a
greater crowd of workmen than before. I had a presentiment
Bob would not come by that train either. It turned out to be
true. By this time my own disappointment had lost its smart at
thought of the blow it would be to mother, whose heart-strings
had been strained to such a pitch of tension that I fancied they
must break at this fresh news. Nearing the bouse, I saw that
she was not, as on the previous occasion, standing in the door-
way. On entering, I found she was not so much cast down as
I bad anticipated.
"I knew he would not come; something told me so," she
said, before I had time to speak a word. " The furnace is not
seven times heated, even yet, it would seem. I know some-
thing has happened to him;" and burying her face in her
apron, she burst into tears.
.1 followed her example, and both of us presently felt better.
I do not remember that we ate a single morsel. Mother did
not care whether I went to meet the last train or not ; but go
I did. On the platform this time were a number of the Bed
Fields workmen who had been engaged in the pit during the
day. They appeared fresb washed, their faces being clean,
with the exception of a little shading about the corners and lids
of the eyes. I noticed, also, that great numbers of those who
had not been to work that day were half drunk. The train
came, but without bringing Bob ; whereupon the last-named
section began cursing it, and almost everything else, but espe-
cially the two justices, Mr. Brown and the owner of the Hall.
Will Bryan tried to persuade me to wait a while before return-
ing home, tbere being signs, he said, of a row worth the seeing
among the colliers. Finding his words were of no avail, at a
great personal sacrifice, be returned with me. Will was always in
his element in a row. Wherever there was a disturbance, there
also, if it were possible, was Will. At Soldier Eobin's school it