Blair Collection > Rhys Lewis, minister of Bethel

RBYS LEWIS. 401
front door and the back ; but I never thought she would take
the keys with her. After that I heard both going up the
stairs ; but I believed the girl would return to let me out.
Nearly smothered, I opened the pantry door, or whatever it
was. The fire was as dark as the black cow's belly, and I
didn't know what in the world to do, I waited a while, and
presently I heard the girl softly stealing down in her stocking
feet. Never was I more glad to see candle light. I was in a
hurry to get out, because I knew it wasn't right to stay in
anybody's house on the sly. I was real sorry for the girl,
when she told me her mistress had the keys and that it was
impossible for me to leave. But I was hound to get out, if I
had to break a hole in the wall ; because it wouldn't be true to
nature, or honourable, to stay in the house all night. Said I
to the girl, "What would be easier than to go through the
front parlour window?" "Well, yes indeed," she replied,
being Welsh. So she put the candle on the table, and away
we went to the parlour. I remember very well that the moon
was shining on the window. There was a flower stand near by,
and in my haste I upset one of the pots and smashed it. Fair-
play for the girl, she said, "The cat'll get the blame for that."
The lower part of the window, I should think, had not been
opened for I don't know how long, and after I had raised it
some ten inches or so, it wouldn't budge a peg. There was no-
thing to be done but to squeeze myself through. When I was
about half-way out, there I stuck, as tight as a wedge, and I
thought once it was there I should remain. But I got help.
In a couple of minutes I felt someone tugging at me, and the
buttons of my vest being all torn away. It was the bobby —
the point to which I was steering, only I've been rather long
with my story. When the girl saw me in the policeman's
hands, she burst out crying at a fine rate, which was the first
time I knew she was fond of me. ' Don't cry Gwen /acA,' said
I to her— her name was Gwen— ' I'U come and see you, directly
I get out of gaol,' which made her ten times worse. I never saw
her again. But this is the point : that bobby knew very well
I had done nothing wrong, and yet he wanted five
shillings for letting me go. After a good deal of argument I
brought him down to half a crown. Their screw is such a,
2 c