s.

Meanwhile, in the parlour below the sturdy Shoni faced his irate master.

"Man," he said, "are you not ashamed of yourself?"

"How dare you speak to me in that tone?" said the old man. "Because I
owe you two or three hundred pounds you forget your position here."

"No," said Shoni, "I don't forget, and I'll remind you sooner than you
think if you don't behave yourself! Man! you haven't learnt the ABC
of religion, though you are a 'preacher.' Christ never taught you that
way of treating a fallen woman. Shame upon you! And your own
brother's child! But I'll see she's taken care of, poor thing! And
the villain who has brought this misery upon her shall feel the weight
of this fist if ever he returns to this country; but he won't; he has
got safe away, and she has to bear the shame, poor thing! Wait till I
tell the 'Vicare du' what I think of his precious son."

"The 'Vicare du'?" said the old man, turning white with rage. "Do you
mean to say that his son has been the cause of this disgrace? I'll
thrash her within an inch of her life!" and he made a rush towards the
door.

"Sit down," said Shoni, taking him by the arm and pushing him back into
his easy-chair, "sit down, and calm yourself, before you stand up and
preach and pray for other people. Tis for yourself you ought to pray."

"True, Shoni, true. I am a miserable sinner like the rest, but don't
let me see that girl again."

"Put her out of your thoughts," said Shoni; "I'll see to her." And as
Valmai came silently down the stairs, he opened the front door for her,
and quietly took her basket from her.

"Well, howyr bach!" said Gwen, looking after them, "there's attentions!
We'd better all walk in the wrong path!" and she banged the door
spitefully, and returned to the parlour to arrange her master's tea.

"And, now, where are you going to, my dear?" said Shoni kindly. "Will
you come to Abersethin? Jane, my sister, will give you lodgings; she
is keeping a shop there."

"No, no, Shoni," said the girl, "you are kind, indeed, and I will never
forget your kindness; but I will go to Nance, on the island; she will
take me in, I know."

"Will she?" said Shoni. "Then you could not go to a better place.
'Tis such lonesome place, the pipple will forget you there."

"Oh, I hope so," said Valmai; "that is all I desire."

"The tide will be down. We can get there easy, only 'tis very cold for
you."

"No, I like the fresh night-wind."

"Well,