Between the acts, and between the songs, Mrs Griffey went on something
in this sort,--
'Indeet yes, sir! treue for you there. The Welsh is a splendit language.
My son Howels--there he is to be proving it--do always say so. Ah!
that's "The rising of the lark," I was singing that myself years ago.
London! to be seure! Now there was singing I was hearing at the play. My
son Howels did tak us to the play. I never was hearing or seeing the
like in my life. Seure, the Queen Victoria or Prince Albert don't be
dressing half as fine as the gentlemen and ladies I was seeing act. The
Queen! Oh, Mrs Rice Rice, fach! Ma'am, I was disappointed! Just a bonnet
no better than my doater-in-law's. What, sir! a crown? Not 'sactly a
crown; but I was 'specting to see a queen different from other people.
Hush! I do hear my son Howels cry, "Silence!" and they do be playing "Ap
Shenkin." Not so bad that for Wales, Mrs Rice Rice. My son Howels do
sing beautiful himself, and do play--Hush! look you at him. He don't
like tolking in the music. He, he, he, sir! you do make me laugh. To be
seure I don't mean to be marrying again, though men are so much for
money. I am thinking you gentlemen 'ould be marrying your grandmothers
for the beauty money! Not my son Howels, indeet! He don't be wanting
money. He marry his cousin for love. Hush you! There's Pengoch beginning
a Penyll! You don't be hearing anything like that in England. Ach a fi!
my 'deet, I am sorry. "God save the Queen!" and it don't seem an hour
since they began!'
Mrs Jenkins stood up with the rest, and beat time emphatically Scarcely
was the last verse of 'God save the Queen' finished, when Howel came up
to his mother, and biting his tongue to keep in his ire, said--
'Mother, I will see you safe first!' and without allowing her time to do
more than make a curtsey to her companions, offered her his arm, and led
her quickly down the room. He did not venture to speak to her, but
nodding to one and another as he passed, said, 'I shall be back
directly. I am just going to send my mother home first,' reached the
door, and called for his carriage. It was close at hand, the hour for
ordering the carriages being past; and he speedily put his mother into
it. 'Drive Mrs Jenkins home, and return immediately,' he exclaimed.
'Which way, ma'am?' asked the servant.
'Go you down the street, then turn to the right, and the first house
with a railing and steps, and a brass knocker,' said Mrs Jenkins,
exulting as they drove off in her new dignity and importance. Howel, on
the contrary, returned to the concert-room, cursing his folly for having
settled in his native county, and wishing his mother anywhere else.
Nevertheless, he received the thanks of the conductor of the concert
with bland humility, and expressed his intention of using all his best
efforts in behalf of his country and countrymen. Finally he assisted in
cloaking and shawling the ladies, seeing them to their carriages, and
bidding them condescending good nights.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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