Blair Collection > Rhys Lewis, minister of Bethel

370 RHYS LEWIS
"Well, perhaps Mr. Lewis will bring you to class at live
o'clock, Mr. Bartiey."
"Thank you very much, sir; and good afternoon now,
whatever," said Thomas.
Hardly had we separated before Thomas turned upon his
heel and shouted :
"Mr. ; beg your pardon, sir; but have you such a
thing as a match about you ? To be shwar. I don't know
how in the world I came to leave home without one.
I heard no more, and was afraid to turn my head. I was
fairly boiling over with vexation, and ready to sink into the
earth, Williams being equally ready to split his sides when
Thomas, on rejoining him, said : "No, he hadn't one. Ho
doesn't carry any, or I should have one and welcome, he
said. But I'm bound to get a light somewhere, before long. Is
there a house handy ? D'ye know what? He's a very decent
man, is that master of yours. I rather 'n a crown he gived
me leave to come to college to see you at it. I shall have so
much more to tell Barbara when I go home."
My debt to Thomas Bartiey was a heavy one, but I would
have been quite willing to give every farthing I possessed to
see him turning homewards at that moment. After that per-
mission to visit class, I did not know what humiliation was
in store for me. It would have appeared inhospitable had I
told him that if he came to the college he would not get home
that night. In my native place I could have enjoyed the fun
very well ; but in Bala it made me wretched, for I felt as if he
were my father. Although I strove to look cheerful, Thomas
as declared I was very much down in the mouth, and was sure
I felt annoyed about something. Williams, on the other hand,
was at the zenith of bliss, Thomas and he being whip and top
together, the whole time. He undertook with alacrity the duty
of showing Thomas " the lions," and I knew he was delighted
with the matter of fact way Thomas regarded them all. When
we got into a good position for a full view of the lovely sheet
of water for which Bala is famous, the most poetic sentiments
which fell from Thomas were: "D'ye know what, Mr. Wil-
liams.' This here lake wouldn't make a bad sea, at a pincu. I
should think there must be a deal of fish in it. What fly do