agw was sent to the top of the garden to call him, which she did
with such stentorian tones that his name flew backwards and forwards
across the valley, but no Gethin came.

Breakfast over, the big Bible was placed before Ebben Owens as usual,
and all the farm servants assembled for prayers. When they rose from
their knees and the wooden shoes had clattered out of the kitchen,
Gwilym said, as he drew his chair to the table:

"Ann, we must wait a little longer for our furniture. My bag of
sovereigns is gone!"

"Gone?" echoed everyone, and Morva, who was putting away the Bible,
turned white with a deadly fear, which seemed to freeze the blood in
her veins. In the excitement of the moment her change of countenance
escaped the notice of the other members of the family.

"Gone," said Will, "gone where? What do you mean, man? Stolen?"

"Yes, no doubt, for the window and the drawer were open."

"The window?" said Ebben Owens. "Then the thief must have come in that
way."

"And gone out, too, I suppose," said Gwilym.

"Tis that devil, Gryffy Lewis," said Will. "He could easily creep up
from his cottage. You ought not to have told him."

"No, I ought not," said the preacher; "but, indeed, I was so glad of
the money and to find that Tim 'Penlau' was honest after all our
doubts, and Gryffy Lewis seemed as glad as I was."

"The deceitful blackguard!" said Ebben Owens.

"Well, we don't know it was he after all," suggested Gwilym. "Poor
man, we must not blame him till we are certain. I hoped and believed
that he had taken a turn for the better, and this would be a dreadful
blow to me."

"Blow to you!" said Will excitedly. "I'll go to Castell On for a
policeman, and it'll be a blow to Gryffy when he feels the handcuffs on
his wrists."

"No--no," said Gwilym Morris, "that I will never allow." For in his
daily life the preacher carried out his Master's teaching in its
spirit, and forgave unto seventy times seven, and with curious
inconsistency abhorred the relentless anger which on Sundays in the
pulpit he unconsciously ascribed to the God whom he worshipped. "No,
let him have the money, it will bring its own punishment, poor fellow!
I have lived long enough without it, and can do without it still, only
poor Ann won't have mahogany chairs and a shining black sofa in her
parlour--deal must do instead."

"Deal will do very well," said Ann soothingly,

"Well," said Ebben Owens, "you take your trouble like a C