Twm visits the vicar of Llandovery. Visits also at Ystrad Fîn. Fortune
smiles on him. Undertakes to bear a sum of money to London for Sir
George Devereux.
TWM retired that evening to a tavern which he had been directed to by Mr.
Rhys; and many of the good people of Llandovery eagerly sought the
company of the wonderful young man who had had the courage to attack and
conquer a highwayman; evincing their kindness by insisting on their right
to treat him with whatever liquor he might be inclined to drink, on
account of the benefit conferred by him on their community. Cautioned by
the worthy curate, however, his potations were very limited; and urging
his fatigue as an excuse for retiring, he soon left his admirers, and
slept that night on a bed of roses.
Rather early in the morning he was awoke by his friend Rhys, who said
that, by appointment, they were both to breakfast with the rev. Rhys
Prichard, who had expressed a desire to see the brave young man that had
captured the highway robber. This invitation was the most acceptable to
Twm, as he was exceedingly anxious to see so celebrated a character as
the vicar of Llandovery; though less for his pious than poetical
celebrity, and more especially the association of his name with his own
family calamity, in the death of his son Samuel, poetically called the
“Flower of Llandovery,” at the murderous hands of the young men of
Maes-y-velin, as before related.
Ashamed of the rustic cut of his coat, Twm proposed to purchase a
clerical one from his friend Rhys, who willingly made him a present of
his second best; observing that this was the day of his entrance into the
world, and as the mass of mankind were apt to judge of all by the
external appearance, an appropriate garb would aid even a man of merit in
making a favorable impression.
The house of the vicar of Llandovery was among the best in the town; a
well-built strong mansion, distinguished from all others by a neat small
cupola on the top, within which was a bell, formerly used to call the
boys to school, but now useless, since the reverend gentleman had long
discontinued teaching. Twm and Rhys waited in the breakfast parlour
about half an hour, filling up the time by noticing and remarking on the
well-waxed oaken floor and furniture, that, with the prints of some of
the English martyrs, with which the room was hung, gave it something of a
gloomy appearance; and skimming over some dusty old volumes of divinity,
till the clock struck six.
Punctual to the moment, in came the worthy vicar, who received the pair
courteously, but with very few words. Breakfast was preceded by prayers;
after which came in bowls of milk and hot cakes, with cold meat, butter,
cheese, and ale; of which, after grace, each was desired to take his
choice. Twm looked at his venerable host with awed reverence. This
eminent character was of a tall, stately figure; his hair white as wool,
his face pale, and rather long, with a countenance beaming with sedate
benignity. He regarded Twm for some time with silent attention, and
afterwards made a few enquiries respecting his recent feat, which, when
answered, he indulged in some pious ejaculations on the fortunate event.
In the comparison suggested by the slight figure of Twm opposed to the
bluff rotundity of the robber, whose corpse he had seen the night before,
he referred to the scriptural records of the combat between David and
Goliah; strictly charging the fortunate youth to take no credit to
himself for the achievement, as he was but an humble instrument in a
mighty hand, and for a special purpose, unknown to the actors of the
scenes themselves.
After a long grace, and a profusion of good counsel to our hero, the
visitors rose to depart; but ere they left, the worthy churchman placed
twenty shillings and a copy of his “Welshman’s Candle” in the hand of
Twm, and after shaking him warmly by the hand, he saw the pair to the
door and bade them farewell.
About nine o’clock Rhys mounted his nag, and Twm, the noble hunter, which
had become his property by the right of conquest, and rode towards the
fair mansion of Ystrad Fîn. The road was entirely over the mountains,
through diversified scenery of much interest. At times the road ran
above the edge of a deep ravine of perilous declivity; at others, hills
overtopped them, in peaks of various fantastic forms; till at length
succeeded the tame flat moorland, abounding with wild ducks and various
aquatic and mountain fowl. These scenes were soon left behind, and
others of a different character, succeeded, tamed to softer beauty by the
indefatigable hand of industrious man.
On reaching the cultivated lands, they passed through a wood at the base
of a hill, on leaving which, the rural chapel of Boiley, the ornamented
estate of Ystrad Fîn, the hill of Dinas, and a glimpse of the river
Towey, were the clustered objects before them. The ancient mansion of
Ystrad Fîn, they found most romantically situate, terminating a sloping
descent from the mountain, with a roaring alpine brook falling headlong
through its rocky bed, at the back; while the high conical hill of Dinas
stood, an object of singular beauty, in front.
They entered the extensive farm-yard, which occupied one side of the
house, in which stood several large elms and oaks, with, here and there,
a huge hollow yew, that associated well with the antique appearance of
the house.
The baronet and his lady, who had been waiting their arrival, gave each a
friendly welcome. It wanted about a couple of hours to dinner time,
which interim Sir George determined to employ on their immediate
business; to that end, accompanied by his lady, he introduced them into
the lawn and garden, where they conversed awhile on different subjects.
At length he began by declaring he had not yet learned the name of his
lady’s preserver; on which, Mr. Rhys told the whole story of his
parentage, dwelling with much emphasis on the unprincipled and cruel
neglect of his father, Sir John Wynne of Gwydir; and in conclusion, he
said his friend and late pupil’s name, derived from his mother, was
Thomas Jones: but that from his childhood he was familiarly called Twm
Shôn Catti.
On the baronet’s inquiry respecting his views and prospects in life, Twm,
with becoming frankness said, that prospects he had none, but he would be
happy to undertake any employment which was not of a menial description;
adding, that as he had some little scholarship, he thought himself
qualified to become a tutor of children in a genteel family, or to take a
preparatory school in some town. The baronet smiled, and replied, that
he had no children, or he would be most happy to engage him in the former
capacity. “But,” cried he, with a sudden turn of jocularity, “allow me
to remark, young man, you surprize me much by your choice of an
occupation; I should have thought that a spirited young fellow like you,
would be more in your element with a commission in the army.” Twm glowed
at the mention of a soldier’s life, and replied with ardour, “You have
named, sir, the dearest sphere on earth in which I would desire to move;
but, friendless and unknown as I am, the very thought of such a thing
would be worse than vain.” “I make no specific promise _now_ on that
head,” returned Sir George, “but I shall not forget your predilection for
a career of arms, nor when communicating with those in power, shall I
ever fail to promote your interests, to the utmost of my power: but I
have now a proposal to make to you, which you can either accept or reject
as you may feel disposed. Were it not for my consciousness that I speak
to a youth of tried courage, animated by a brave enterprising spirit, I
should never think of naming it, but as it is, thus the affair stands.
The roads between Bristol and London are sadly infested by
highway-robbers; I want to send a considerable sum of money to the
metropolis; and I conceive that a lad of mettle and address like you
might bear it in safety, while absolute veterans in the ways of the world
would fail. I would give you a sufficient sum to bear your expenses; and
on your return here, after accomplishing your undertaking, reward you
handsomely, and do my utmost to place you in a situation agreeable to
your wishes, where you may gain an honorable livelihood.”
Twm, in a moment, agreeably to the decision of his character, acceded to
the proposal, and declared he was ready to commence his journey to London
next morning. While the baronet was about to reply, a servant came to
the garden gate, and announced dinner; to which the party paid immediate
attention, and entered the hospitable dinner parlour of Ystrad Fîn.