Page:My people stories of the peasantry of West Wales.djvu/149

 Joshua took possession of the land around Lancoch. He put up new gates, and repaired the hedges, and divers times he drove Betti’s cow out of the fields into the roadway. It was a dry summer, and water was scarce in the ditches that are alongside the roads; Betti’s cow went thirsty for three days, and then she laid herself down on the moor whither she had wandered, and perished.

Joshua turned in at Lancoch.

“Little Betti,” he said, “grave is the news I have for you. Priscila has promised Lancoch to Hugh the Stonemason.” “You want me to go off?” “Glad I’ll be if you go off, Betti fach.” “Where?” “Pity now you didn't take the offer to come and live in Llanwen. I can’t go back on Priscila’s word to Hugh. And he'll be handy about the place. There’s the money too. Josh the Small is costing