Page:My people stories of the peasantry of West Wales.djvu/218

 the parlour was kept open so that his voice reached the others who sat in the kitchen.

Mishtir Bryn-Bevan’s reading of the seventh chapter of Proverbs ended when Shaci brought his horse and cart into the close.

Rhys Shop rose to his feet and moved towards the outer door.

Mishtir Bryn-Bevan spoke wrathfully.

“Rhys Shop,” he cried, “an old black you are to forget that I am here!”

The minister strode through the kitchen: the people remarked the dignity of his stride and marvelled.

Shaci approached him, shaking his head, and saying,

“The old wench does not speak Welsh.” Mishtir Bryn-Bevan stood on the threshold, his feet far from each other; and he stretched forth his right arm, and his hand was covered in black kid, and he cried: “Halt, you female woman. Why you come here to spoil this godly house? Dan