hief,
"how much is it?" and she held out a half-sovereign.

"Eight shillings--you pay in there," and he pointed to a red painted
shed, "but look you here, little woman, that big pocket doesn't suit
such a place as Cardiff, 'tis too easily got at; tie your money up
tight and put it inside the breast of your gown."

"Yes," said Sara, obeying, "and thank you."

"Look alive, then, and I will take you on board."

Sara found a seat near the prow of the ship.

"We'll have to tie a few weights to you by and by, I'm thinking, or
you'll be blown away," said the captain, as he kindly arranged some
boxes and baskets so as to shelter her a little from the strong March
wind.

"Am I the only passenger?"

"Yes. 'Tis mostly goods we carry, but sometimes we have a stray
passenger. And where would you be going now so far from Garthowen Moor
in your old age?"

Welsh curiosity is a quantity that has to be taken into account.

"I am going to Cardiff."

"Yes, yes; but when you get there?"

"I don't know for sure."

The captain looked grave.

"You have a daughter, perhaps, or a son at Cardiff?"

"No, neither," said Sara. "'Tis the oldest son of Garthowen I am
seeking for--Gethin Owens, have you ever seen him?"

"Gethin Owens!" said the captain, in a tone of surprise. "What? the
dark brown chap with the white teeth and the bright eyes like a
starling's?"--Sara nodded--"and gold rings in his ears?"

"That's him," said Sara. "Do you know him?"

"Caton pawb! as well as if he was my own son. He's mate of the
_Gwenllian_, trading to Monte Video and other foreign parts. The
_Gwenllian_ sailed about four months ago and would be back about now.
Is that what you are expecting?"

"Yes," said Sara, "Ebben Owens Garthowen is wearing his heart away
longing for his son, and I think if I can see him I have news for him
that will bring him to the old home."

"Well, well," said the captain, "little did I think the mate of the
_Gwenllian_ was the son of my old friend Ebben Owens Garthowen! Why!
long ago I have been stopping with him, when he was a young man and I
the same. I remember he was courting a handsome girl there, the finest
lass you ever set your eyes upon, straight she was, and tall, with
brown hair and dark blue eyes, like the night sky with the stars in it;
oh! she was a fine lass, and she carried her pail on her head as
straight as a willow wand," and the old captain clasped his own waist
above the hips, and strutt