Blair Collection > Rhys Lewis, minister of Bethel

HHYS LEWIS. 281
■with, them at the Tump, for nothing else would ever have
induced her to break up her home. I had, for some years past,
been flattering myself that the neighbours had about forgotten
father and uncle, for none of them as much as mentioned their
names to me. I, however, had sense enough to discern that
it was their delicacy and a feeling of respect for the memory of
my religious mother which made them behave towards me as if
uothiug of dishonour had happened in my family history. Not
a day passed over my head that I did not think how possible it
was for the whole of such history to be revived, and for me, in
consequence, to be obliged to hide my head in shame. As often
as the desire to become a preacher possessed me, the thought
that my father and uncle might, at any moment, be dragged
forth from their hiding places into the light of day, would
choke it back at once. But quite unexpectedly, as narrated,
here the news came of my father's death, occurring, if true, far
from home. Think how pitiful must be the family connections
of one who is made glad when he hears of the death of his
father ! It is useless my attempting to conceal the fact : I
rejoiced greatly. I felt like one let out from some dark, dank
dungeon into liberty and fresh air. And yet my head was in a
muddle, and my conscience kept telling me that I was not
acting straight. On the one hand, I had discovered Nic'las to
be deceiving his neighbours and leading a life which was not so
retired as he pretended. To say the best of it, he gave shelter to at
least one character who was a fugitive from his country's laws.
It was now in my power to strip Garth Ddu of its false
seclusion. Ought I to do so ? I asked myself, and conscience
answered, "You ought, without delay." Besides, there was
my uncle. I knew him to be one who did not deserve to be at
liberty. His crime— i^e crime— was by this time an old one;
but that did not lessen its enormity a bit. He was wanted of
the law that day as much as on the day he did the deed. There
would be no difficulty in convicting him, for the two half-
murdered gamekeepers were still alive and in the service of the
owner of the Hall. They would be able to identify him at once.
Although, the act of which they had been guilty was eighteen
years old, I had only to whisper somo half a dozen words in
the Hall owner's ear to fan his vengeance into a flame on the