standing
under the elder-tree, with the round moon shining full on her face.
Sara, woman, I nearly lost my breath, and had to lay my hand on the
doorpost to steady myself. Bella had hold of my arm, and I felt as if
a snake was hanging there that I wanted to throw off. The music came
full and loud into the street, and I hated it all. I cannot tell what
came over me, but my knees trembled and my hands--mine, remember,
Gethin Owens, the big, strong sailor!--my hands were shaking like a
leaf when I took the tickets. I tried to throw it off, and to laugh
and talk again with Bella.

"'What's the matter?' she said; but I couldn't answer, for whenever I
looked at her that glittering necklace brought Morva's face before me
so plain as if she had been there herself; and when we sat down in the
theatre I couldn't hear the music and I couldn't see the stage, because
soft in my ears was Morva's voice calling me, like she called me that
day on the slopes when I tore myself from her little clinging arms:
'Gethin! Gethin! come back!' was plain in my ears.

"I looked round me quite moidered. Lots of Bella's friends were there,
and lots of mine; but I could not stop. I stood up, determined to go
out, whatever the others might think of me, for all the time Morva's
voice was in my ears calling 'Gethin! Gethin!'

"'I am going,' said I to Bella; 'somebody is calling me.' And there,
close to me, who should I see but Ben Barlow sitting alone. I pushed
the play bill in his hand. 'Look after Bella,' I said; 'I am going,'
and I went towards the door. I could hear Bella's friends laughing and
shouting, and the last thing I heard as I went out was a shower of bad
names and foul words that Bella was flinging after me.

"The tide is nearly full, I see; she'll be starting directly, but I
have almost told you everything now.

"I shipped for another long voyage after that, and only now I have come
back; but indeed, Sara fach, whether 'twas a dream or vision, or what,
I don't know, but never, in storms or wrecks or fine weather, on land
or sea, will I forget the strong hand that laid hold of me that night,
and turned my face away from the music, the lights, the sin and the
folly of the town. I have told thee all, Sarah fach. Wilt still be my
friend?"

"For ever, 'machgen i!"

"Then it is to the old country I'm going, Sara, back to the sea wind,
the song of the lark, and the call of the seagulls on the bay. I'll be
home one of the