the doom of the griffiths-第8章
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drink； and made Nest； too； taste some mouthfulsall the while
planning in his own mind how best to conceal what had been done； and
who had done it； not altogether without a certain feeling of vulgar
triumph in the reflection that Nest； as she stood there； carelessly
dressed； dishevelled in her grief； was in reality the mistress of
Bodowen； than which Ellis Pritchard had never seen a grander house；
though he believed such might exist。
By dint of a few dexterous questions he found out all he wanted to
know from Owen； as he ate and drank。 In fact； it was almost a relief
to Owen to dilute the horror by talking about it。 Before the meal
was done； if meal it could be called； Ellis knew all he cared to
know。
〃Now； Nest； on with your cloak and haps。 Pack up what needs to go
with you； for both you and your husband must be half way to Liverpool
by to…morrow's morn。 I'll take you past Rhyl Sands in my fishing…
boat； with yours in tow； and； once over the dangerous part； I'll
return with my cargo of fish； and learn how much stir there is at
Bodowen。 Once safe hidden in Liverpool； no one will know where you
are； and you may stay quiet till your time comes for returning。〃
〃I will never come home again；〃 said Owen； doggedly。 〃The place is
accursed！〃
〃Hoot！ be guided by me； man。 Why； it was but an accident； after all！
And we'll land at the Holy Island； at the Point of Llyn； there is an
old cousin of mine； the parson； therefor the Pritchards have known
better days； Squireand we'll bury him there。 It was but an
accident； man。 Hold up your head！ You and Nest will come home yet
and fill Bodowen with children； and I'll live to see it。〃
〃Never！〃 said Owen。 〃I am the last male of my race； and the son has
murdered his father！〃
Nest came in laden and cloaked。 Ellis was for hurrying them off。
The fire was extinguished； the door was locked。
〃Here； Nest； my darling； let me take your bundle while I guide you
down the steps。〃 But her husband bent his head； and spoke never a
word。 Nest gave her father the bundle （already loaded with such
things as he himself had seen fit to take）； but clasped another
softly and tightly。
〃No one shall help me with this；〃 said she； in a low voice。
Her father did not understand her； her husband did； and placed his
strong helping arm round her waist； and blessed her。
〃We will all go together； Nest；〃 said he。 〃But where？〃 and he looked
up at the storm…tossed clouds coming up from windward。
〃It is a dirty night；〃 said Ellis； turning his head round to speak to
his companions at last。 〃But never fear； we'll weather it？〃 And he
made for the place where his vessel was moored。 Then he stopped and
thought a moment。
〃Stay here！〃 said he； addressing his companions。 〃I may meet folk；
and I shall； maybe； have to hear and to speak。 You wait here till I
come back for you。〃 So they sat down close together in a corner of
the path。
〃Let me look at him； Nest！〃 said Owen。
She took her little dead son out from under her shawl； they looked at
his waxen face long and tenderly； kissed it； and covered it up
reverently and softly。
〃Nest；〃 said Owen； at last； 〃I feel as though my father's spirit had
been near us； and as if it had bent over our poor little one。 A
strange chilly air met me as I stooped over him。 I could fancy the
spirit of our pure； blameless child guiding my father's safe over the
paths of the sky to the gates of heaven； and escaping those accursed
dogs of hell that were darting up from the north in pursuit of souls
not five minutes since。
〃Don't talk so； Owen；〃 said Nest； curling up to him in the darkness
of the copse。 〃Who knows what may be listening？〃
The pair were silent； in a kind of nameless terror； till they heard
Ellis Pritchard's loud whisper。 〃Where are ye？ Come along； soft and
steady。 There were folk about even now； and the Squire is missed；
and madam in a fright。〃
They went swiftly down to the little harbour； and embarked on board
Ellis's boat。 The sea heaved and rocked even there； the torn clouds
went hurrying overhead in a wild tumultuous manner。
They put out into the bay； still in silence； except when some word of
command was spoken by Ellis； who took the management of the vessel。
They made for the rocky shore； where Owen's boat had been moored。 It
was not there。 It had broken loose and disappeared。
Owen sat down and covered his face。 This last event； so simple and
natural in itself； struck on his excited and superstitious mind in an
extraordinary manner。 He had hoped for a certain reconciliation； so
to say； by laying his father and his child both in one grave。 But
now it appeared to him as if there was to be no forgiveness； as if
his father revolted even in death against any such peaceful union。
Ellis took a practical view of the case。 If the Squire's body was
found drifting about in a boat known to belong to his son； it would
create terrible suspicion as to the manner of his death。 At one time
in the evening； Ellis had thought of persuading Owen to let him bury
the Squire in a sailor's grave； or； in other words； to sew him up in
a spare sail； and weighting it well； sink it for ever。 He had not
broached the subject； from a certain fear of Owen's passionate
repugnance to the plan； otherwise； if he had consented； they might
have returned to Penmorfa； and passively awaited the course of
events； secure of Owen's succession to Bodowen； sooner or later； or
if Owen was too much overwhelmed by what had happened； Ellis would
have advised him to go away for a short time； and return when the
buzz and the talk was over。
Now it was different。 It was absolutely necessary that they should
leave the country for a time。 Through those stormy waters they must
plough their way that very night。 Ellis had no fearwould have had
no fear； at any rate； with Owen as he had been a week； a day ago； but
with Owen wild； despairing； helpless； fate…pursued； what could he do？
They sailed into the tossing darkness； and were never more seen of
men。
The house of Bodowen has sunk into damp； dark ruins； and a Saxon
stranger holds the lands of the Griffiths。
End
