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which Martha Thomas had thrown out； it is enough to say that Nest was
very giddy； and that she was motherless。 She had high spirits and a
great love of admiration； or； to use a softer term； she loved to
please； men； women； and children； all； she delighted to gladden with
her smile and voice。 She coquetted； and flirted； and went to the
extreme lengths of Welsh courtship； till the seniors of the village
shook their heads； and cautioned their daughters against her
acquaintance。 If not absolutely guilty； she had too frequently been
on the verge of guilt。
Even at the time； Martha Thomas's hint made but little impression on
Owen； for his senses were otherwise occupied； but in a few days the
recollection thereof had wholly died away； and one warm glorious
summer's day； he bent his steps toward Ellis Pritchard's with a
beating heart； for； except some very slight flirtations at Oxford；
Owen had never been touched； his thoughts； his fancy； had been
otherwise engaged。
Ty Glas was built against one of the lower rocks of Moel Gest； which；
indeed； formed a side to the low； lengthy house。 The materials of
the cottage were the shingly stones which had fallen from above；
plastered rudely together； with deep recesses for the small oblong
windows。 Altogether； the exterior was much ruder than Owen had
expected； but inside there seemed no lack of comforts。 The house was
divided into two apartments； one large； roomy； and dark； into which
Owen entered immediately； and before the blushing Nest came from the
inner chamber （for she had seen the young Squire coming； and hastily
gone to make some alteration in her dress）； he had had time to look
around him； and note the various little particulars of the room。
Beneath the window （which commanded a magnificent view） was an oaken
dresser； replete with drawers and cupboards； and brightly polished to
a rich dark colour。 In the farther part of the room Owen could at
first distinguish little； entering as he did from the glaring
sunlight； but he soon saw that there were two oaken beds； closed up
after the manner of the Welsh： in fact； the domitories of Ellis
Pritchard and the man who served under him； both on sea and on land。
There was the large wheel used for spinning wool； left standing on
the middle of the floor； as if in use only a few minutes before； and
around the ample chimney hung flitches of bacon； dried kids'…flesh；
and fish； that was in process of smoking for winter's store。
Before Nest had shyly dared to enter； her father； who had been
mending his nets down below； and seen Owen winding up to the house；
came in and gave him a hearty yet respectful welcome； and then Nest；
downcast and blushing； full of the consciousness which her father's
advice and conversation had not failed to inspire； ventured to join
them。 To Owen's mind this reserve and shyness gave her new charms。
It was too bright； too hot； too anything to think of going to shoot
teal till later in the day； and Owen was delighted to accept a
hesitating invitation to share the noonday meal。 Some ewe…milk
cheese； very hard and dry； oat…cake； slips of the dried kids'…flesh
broiled； after having been previously soaked in water for a few
minutes； delicious butter and fresh butter…milk； with a liquor called
〃diod griafol〃 （made from the berries of the Sorbus aucuparia；
infused in water and then fermented）； composed the frugal repast； but
there was something so clean and neat； and withal such a true
welcome； that Owen had seldom enjoyed a meal so much。 Indeed； at
that time of day the Welsh squires differed from the farmers more in
the plenty and rough abundance of their manner of living than in the
refinement of style of their table。
At the present day； down in Llyn； the Welsh gentry are not a wit
behind their Saxon equals in the expensive elegances of life； but
then （when there was but one pewter…service in all Northumberland）
there was nothing in Ellis Pritchard's mode of living that grated on
the young Squire's sense of refinement。
Little was said by that young pair of wooers during the meal； the
father had all the conversation to himself； apparently heedless of
the ardent looks and inattentive mien of his guest。 As Owen became
more serious in his feelings； he grew more timid in their expression；
and at night； when they returned from their shooting…excursion； the
caress he gave Nest was almost as bashfully offered as received。
This was but the first of a series of days devoted to Nest in
reality； though at first he thought some little disguise of his
object was necessary。 The past； the future； was all forgotten in
those happy days of love。
And every worldly plan； every womanly wile was put in practice by
Ellis Pritchard and his daughter； to render his visits agreeable and
alluring。 Indeed； the very circumstance of his being welcome was
enough to attract the poor young man； to whom the feeling so produced
was new and full of charms。 He left a home where the certainty of
being thwarted made him chary in expressing his wishes； where no
tones of love ever fell on his ear； save those addressed to others；
where his presence or absence was a matter of utter indifference； and
when he entered Ty Glas； all； down to the little cur which； with
clamorous barkings； claimed a part of his attention； seemed to
rejoice。 His account of his day's employment found a willing
listener in Ellis； and when he passed on to Nest； busy at her wheel
or at her churn； the deepened colour； the conscious eye； and the
gradual yielding of herself up to his lover…like caress； had worlds
of charms。 Ellis Pritchard was a tenant on the Bodowen estate； and
therefore had reasons in plenty for wishing to keep the young
Squire's visits secret； and Owen； unwilling to disturb the sunny calm
of these halcyon days by any storm at home； was ready to use all the
artifice which Ellis suggested as to the mode of his calls at Ty
Glas。 Nor was he unaware of the probable； nay； the hoped…for
termination of these repeated days of happiness。 He was quite
conscious that the father wished for nothing better than the marriage
of his daughter to the heir of Bodowen； and when Nest had hidden her
face in his neck； which was encircled by her clasping arms； and
murmured into his ear her acknowledgment of love； he felt only too
desirous of finding some one to love him for ever。 Though not highly
principled； he would not have tried to obtain Nest on other terms
save those of marriage： he did so pine after enduring love； and
fancied he should have bound her heart for evermore to his； when they
had taken the solemn oaths of matrimony。
There was no great difficulty attending a secret marriage at such a
place and at such a time。 One gusty autumn day； Ellis ferried them
round Penthryn to Llandutrwyn； and there saw his little Nest become
future Lady of Bodowen。
How often do we see giddy； coquetting； restless girls become sobered
by marriage？ A gr