ever she becomes disengaged she will become his wife.
Well, after some time, the lady's husband dies and leaves her all his
property, so that all of a sudden she finds herself one great independent
lady, mistress of the whole of Strath Feen, one fair and pleasant valley
far away there over the Eastern hills, by the Towey, on the borders of
Shire Car. Tom, as soon as he hears the news of all this, sets off for
Strath Feen and asks the lady to perform her word; but the lady, who
finds herself one great and independent lady, and moreover does not quite
like the idea of marrying one thief, for she had learnt who Tom was, does
hum and hah, and at length begs to be excused, because she has changed
her mind. Tom begs and entreats, but quite in vain, till at last she
tells him to go away and not trouble her any more. Tom goes away, but
does not yet lose hope. He takes up his quarters in one strange little
cave, nearly at the top of one wild hill, very much like sugar loaf,
which does rise above the Towey, just within Shire Car. I have seen the
cave myself, which is still called Ystafell Twm Shone Catty. Very queer
cave it is, in strange situation; steep rock just above it, Towey River
roaring below. There Tom takes up his quarters, and from there he often
sallies forth, in hope of having interview with fair lady and making her
alter her mind, but she will have nothing to do with him, and at last
shuts herself up in her house and will not go out. Well, Tom nearly
loses all hope; he, however, determines to make one last effort; so one
morning he goes to the house and stands before the door, entreating with
one loud and lamentable voice that the lady will see him once more,
because he is come to bid her one eternal farewell, being about to set
off for the wars in the kingdom of France. Well, the lady who hears all
he says relents one little, and showing herself at the window, before
which are very strong iron bars, she says: 'Here I am! whatever you have
to say, say it quickly and go your way.' Says Tom: 'I am come to bid you
one eternal farewell, and have but one last slight request to make, which
is that you vouchsafe to stretch out of the window your lily-white hand,
that I may impress one last burning kiss of love on the same.' Well, the
lady hesitates one little time; at last, having one woman's heart, she
thinks she may grant him this last little request, and stretching her
hand through the bars, she says: 'Well, the