My Neighbors: Stories of the Welsh PeopleEvans, Caradoc
General
My Neighbors: Stories of the Welsh People
Evans, Caradoc
Wales -- Social life and customs -- Fiction
"And for why we are not married?" Ben took Gwen in his arms and he
kissed her and drew her body nigh to him; and in a little while he
opened the door sharply and rebuked his wife that she waited thereat.
Daily did Gwen praise and laud Ben to her husband. "There is no one in
the world like him," she said. "He will get very far."
"Bring Mistar Lloyd to Windsor for me to know him quite well," said
Enoch.
"I will ask him," Gwen replied without faltering.
"Benefit myself I will."
Early every Thursday afternoon Ben arrived at Windsor, and at the coming
home from his shop of Enoch, Ben always said: "Messes Enos-Harries has
been singing the piano. Like the trilling of God's feathered choir is
her music."
Though Ben and Gwen were left at peace they could not satisfy nor crush
their lust.
Before three years were over, Ben had obtained great fame. "He ought to
be in Parliament and give up preaching entirely," some said; and Enoch
and Gwen were partakers of his glory.
Then Gwen told him that she had conceived, whereof Ben counseled her to
go into her husband's bed.
"That I have not the stomach to do," the woman complained.
"As you say, dear heart," said Ben. "Cancer has the wife. Perish soon
she must. Ease our path and lie with your lout."
Presently Gwen bore a child; and Enoch her husband looked at it and
said: "Going up is Ben Lloyd. Solid am I as the counter."
Gwen related her fears to Ben, who contrived to make Enoch a member of
the London County Council. Enoch rejoiced: summoning the congregation of
Thornton Vale to be witnesses of his gift of a Bible cushion to the
chapel.
As joy came to him, so grief fell upon his wife. "After all," Ben wrote
to her, "you belong to him. You have been joined together in the holiest
and sacredest matrimony. Monumental responsibilities have been thrust on
me by my people. I did not seek for them, but it is my duty to bear
them. Pray that I shall use God's hoe with understanding and wisdom.
There is a talk of putting me up for Parliament. Others will have a
chanse of electing a real religious man. I must not be tempted by you
again. Well, good-by, Gwen, may He keep you unspotted from the world.
Ships that pass in the night."
Enoch was plagued, and he followed Ben to chapel meetings, eisteddfodau,
Cymrodorion and St. David's Day gatherings, always speaking in this
fashion: "Cast under is the girl fach you do not visit her. Improved has
her singing."
Because Ben was careless of his call, his wrath heated and he said to
him: "Growing is the baban."
"How's trade?" Ben remarked. "Do you estimate for Government contracts?"
"Not thought have I."
"Just hinted. A word I can put in."
"Red is the head of the baban."
"Two black heads make red," observed Ben.
"And his name is Benjamin."
"As you speak. Farewell for to-day. How would you like to put up for a
Welsh constituency?"
"Not deserving am I of anything. Happy would I and the wife be to see
you in the House."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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