CHAPTER VII.

_THE LOST INHERITANCE REGAINED_.

The day previous to the return of Mr. Wynn and young Roberts to town, they went out alone for a stroll. They took the road leading to Pont Aberglaslyn, and as both gentlemen were excellent pedestrians, they soon arrived at that exquisitely beautiful glen. When on the bridge, they gazed in silence for some minutes on the dark mad water beneath. After some minutes’ silence, Mr. Wynn asked his friend if he had previously visited the glen.

“Yes; I have been here once, Cadwgan.”

“Don’t you think it’s a charming spot?”

“In my judgment, Cadwgan, this is the grandest scene in all Wales.”

“Then you prefer it to Bettws-y-Coed?”

“I do. This place has a charm for me which that sylvan vale has not.”

“So it has for me, my friend. The meandering river flowing down this valley, the high hills on either side of the glen, the stupendous and overhanging rocks, with a thousand different colours, foliage, trees, shrubs, and mosses, with grand old Snowdon in the distance: these, and early recollections and associations, have rendered this place dearer to me than all other scenes in my dear native land. I am glad that our views of this delectable valley are identical, though I cannot convey to you the depth of my emotion in contemplating the scene.”

“Cadwgan,” replied Mr. Roberts, “the spot on which I now stand is as dear to me as my life. You have been my adviser, my counsellor, my friend—ay, more than a brother to me. Oh, advise me how to act! I confessed here to your sister my love, and offered her my hand and heart. I asked her to become mine; but oh, Cadwgan, she rejected my offer!”

“Did she, that is, my sister, give any reason for declining your offer?”

“Indeed she did not.”

“Did she tell you she was engaged already?”

“Nay; she told me she was free.”

“Did you ask her for an immediate answer?”

“Yes.”

“What was her reply?”

“That she could not be mine.”

“Then she gave you no other reason?”

“No, no, Cadwgan; but was not that enough? Since then I’ve been the most miserable of men. Oh, you must dissuade her from acting towards me so cruelly.”

“I am glad, Roberts, my sister acted as she did, though I deeply regret the pain her refusal has occasioned you. I blame you for confessing your love, though I do not blame you for feeling admiration for my dear sister.”

“I take it, Cadwgan, you are not favourable to my suit.”

“So far from being unfavourable, my dear Roberts, I will confess to you that I know of no one whom I should so like to have for a brother as yourself.”

“Then you are willing for me to renew my suit hereafter?”

“Most willing.”

“But you have expressed your approval of your sister’s rejection of my suit?”

“Yes.”

“You are incomprehensible to me. Pray explain yourself, my dear Cadwgan.”

“I’ll do so in a few words. Before I can permit my dear sister to entertain your proposal, your father must be fully informed of your intention. His views of such an alliance might be very different from yours. He might wish you to marry the daughter of a wealthy city merchant, therefore he would regard your proposal as foolish and imprudent.”

“Cadwgan, you do my dear father great injustice. He has an abundance of wealth. He would be the last man to make my marriage a matter of money speculation. I know better than you can his feelings, and am sure that, in a matter so momentous, his first consideration would be my happiness.”

“I have no doubt but such are your father’s feelings; still, as I am but a clerk in his establishment, I can’t permit you to address my sister until his consent is given fully and freely.”

“Well, knowing your high character and scruples, I must tell you that I have taken steps in order to anticipate your objection.”

“I hope you have not written Mr. Roberts?”

“Indeed I have, Cadwgan.”

“I’m very sorry; you really should have waited.”

“Nay, nay, I couldn’t wait.”

“Has your father replied?”

“Yes; his answer came this morning.”

“I suppose he has ordered your immediate return home?”

“Oh no. I’m to stay another week if I like.”

“Well, has he given you his consent for you to propose to my dear sister?”

“Yes; I have his hearty approval.”

“Then my sister was not aware of this when you offered her your hand?”

“Certainly not. My father’s letter came this morning.”

“Have you informed her of your father’s feeling in the matter?”

“No. I delayed doing so until I spoke to you.”

“I’m glad you have kept the information from Gwenfan. But she must not be kept in ignorance longer than can be helped; and since you have opened your mind freely to me, I may as well tell you that at the proper time and after I have consulted your father, she is prepared to accept your hand. As her brother and guardian, I will then, my dear Roberts, give her to you. I know you will watch over her with the deepest affection and solicitude. In this matter I have only one request to make, which I am sure will be readily granted. Will you promise?”

“To me, dear friend, you will is law.”

“My request is a simple one, namely, that your marriage be deferred for a time?”

“You are too cruel to defer the day of my being made perfectly happy.”

“But for your and her sake I think there should be reasonable delay. It is true your father is a rich man, but for the present you are simply a son of a city prince. Possibly he might give you £1000 a year, but I should like to see you in business yourself before you settle down. Then my dear sister is young: only little over eighteen years. Three or four years is not long to wait.”

“For the present I will not argue the point with you, you will learn that I am not in the position you fancy I am. I cannot explain myself further now, but when we return to town, you, dear Cadwgan, will know all. Others will reveal facts to you which I am bound to keep secret.”

“Well, well, we’ll talk on this matter again. We must now return to the Villa, and make our arrangements for our immediate return to London. Early to-morrow morning we must leave, otherwise we shall arrive at the warehouse on the day our leave expires.”

During the evening, Mr. Roberts and Gwenfan had a long conversation. When he returned to the library to join Cadwgan, he whispered, “It is all settled; I’m now happy.”

In the following August, Miss Wynn and her aunt paid a long visit to London. During their stay, they were frequent visitors at Mr. Roberts’ urban mansion. The more he saw of the gentle, quiet, and lovely Gwenfan, the more he liked her; and when the time came when those loving hearts were to be made one, he took his son’s and future daughter’s hands in his, saying, “Be true to each other; and you, my son, guard this beautiful Cambrian plant, for I am persuaded she is worth her weight in gold. You, Rhys, have made a wise choice, I would rather have Gwenfan for my daughter than a princess of the royal blood. May Heaven bless your union!”

We now pass over a brief period of history. Mr. Roberts had now ceased to be a partner in the firm. From the date of Mr. Wynn joining the firm until Mr. Roberts’ retirement, the house had prospered year after year. The partners became wealthy men, were of high repute in the city, and Mr. Wynn, who was considered the soul of the business, was looked up to as a man almost unequalled for business talents, while his word was regarded as law by all with whom he had any mercantile transactions.

Of Mr. Roberts’ intended retirement, Mr. Wynn knew nothing until the very morning it was carried out. When they met in the former’s private office, he asked,—

“How many years, Mr. Wynn, has our partnership lasted?”

“Five years, sir.”

“How long have you been with me?”

“Ten years to-day, sir, I entered your service.”

“Oh, how rapidly the time passes! Well I have to thank my heavenly Father for having directed your footsteps here. You have proved yourself a faithful friend, since the date of our partnership. By your tact, judgment, business habits, industry, and integrity, you have raised our house to the highest commercial position. You are almost as dear to me, Cadwgan, as if you were my own child.”

“From you,” replied Mr. Wynn, “I have received the greatest kindness and consideration. To me you have been a second father. No parent could have shown a deeper interest in a son than you have shown in me.”

“As you are now a rich man, Cadwgan, why don’t you seek a wife. I’m sure you would be a better and happier man?”

“I have, Mr. Roberts, anticipated your wish.”

“I’m glad to hear it, Cadwgan, though you surprise me. I was not aware of your having fixed your heart on any young lady. I hope she is worthy of you.”

“From you, sir, I keep nothing. The lady is Miss Jones; she has accepted my offer, and her parents have given their consent to our union.”

“I’m glad to hear this, for your sake and hers. Jones is a capital fellow, and his daughter is a noble girl. She has in her own right a splendid fortune, and her father must be a rich man. She will make you an excellent wife. Her fortune is in the funds, and if necessary you could turn it to immediate account. I hope you will get back the old place.

“Now, Mr. Wynn, as you have told me your secret, I see no reason why I should withhold from you mine. I, too, am about to contract a marriage; I do not find it good to be alone; I am going to be wedded to my first love. Strange to say, her name is Wynn. Do you know any lady in your parts of North Wales of that name?”

“Indeed, sir, I don’t at present recollect any lady of the name of Wynn.”

“Try, Cadwgan, and remember. My impression is you must remember; she is acquainted with you.”

“Surely, Mr. Roberts, you don’t refer to my aunt?”

“I do though. Are you willing to give her to me?”

“Most willing, sir, as far as I am concerned.”

“Then you are pleased at the prospect of a closer connection between us? You have placed me in possession of your feeling. Now please give me the reason of its existence?”

“That I will do, sir, in a few words. Though she is my aunt, and the only relative I have in the world, except my dear sister, I must say that she is one of the kindest and best of women. I am sure she will make you happy. But, sir, I did not know you had ever seen my aunt until she came to visit me in London?”

“Miss Wynn was my earliest love. I proposed to her, but her brother, your dear father, objected to our union. I left for London immediately afterwards, got married, settled down in business, but from the day of my departure until her visit to you we never met. Mr. Jones was fully aware of the circumstance of my being rejected. It was, indeed, the fact of my proposal of which Jones took advantage to plead so persistently for you when he wished you to come here. Little did I know then what a noble boy you were, what a treasure I was to have in you. But let that pass: I have one favour to ask you. Will you grant it?”

“Yes, sir, to the extent of every penny I possess.”

“Will you consent to be married on the same day as myself? And we will arrange that Rhys and your sister shall also be united on the occasion. Next, will you sign that parchment, without asking any question, or examining its contents? you can make yourself acquainted with the particulars hereafter.”

“Heartily I say yes, to your questions.”

“My dear boy, I thank you from my heart of hearts for your goodness and confidence. The document contains a dissolution of partnership so far as I am concerned. You, and your future brother are now the owners of everything here.”

“Mr. Roberts,” replied Cadwgan, with tears in his eyes, “how can I ever repay you for so noble and so generous an act?”

“My dear boy, you have already repaid me with your grateful tear, by your ten years of faithful services, and by the splendid gift of your aunt. There is the ledger, which you can scan at leisure. You will find the facts fully set forth. Here is a mortgage deed for £50,000,—a sum which simply represents your share of the profits of the business during the period of our partnership. The other mortgagee is your intended father-in-law, who has invested his daughter’s fortune in the same property as her trustee and guardian. The two sums amount to £115,000, which are secured on your paternal estate, Wynn Castle. On the day of your marriage, the estate, which has been greatly improved since your poor father’s death, will be conveyed to you as sole owner, by cancelling those deeds. How this matter has been arranged it is not necessary for you to know. I rejoice beyond measure in your being about to take possession of your lost inheritance, and to regain it by means so honourable to yourself. My prayer shall be that Heaven will bless you with health and prosperity, and that you may long live to enjoy it. I have now done my day’s work, so for the present must wish you good morning. We shall soon meet again.”

But few additional words are necessary to complete this history. In a few months after the above interview, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Roberts junior, and Cadwgan were married to the ladies of their choice.

During a portion of each summer, Mr. and Mrs. Cadwgan Wynn, and Mr. and Mrs. Roberts, senior and junior spent several weeks at Wynn Castle, where Mr. and Mrs. Owen Jones had taken up their permanent abode. The various tenants on the estate rejoiced in possessing such an excellent landlord, but their joy was unbounded on the morning the news reached them of the birth of a son and heir. On the return to the castle after this event, his tenantry presented him with an address, to which he replied as follows:—

“Friends and neighbours,—After many years of exile from the land of my birth and the home of my father’s sepulchre, I feel it my first duty to return my gratitude to Him who guides and directs the destiny of us all, for having in His good and merciful providence again directed my footsteps to the land of my love and my warmest affection. Twelve years to day I went out in the wide world, poor and almost penniless. I resolved, with Heaven’s help, to succeed, that is if success could be achieved by honesty, integrity, and plodding. After wandering about London for several days, I found myself one summer evening on London Bridge, faint, anxious, and sick, with but a few shillings in my pocket. Just as I was about to settle down to sleep on the cold stone, a good Welsh Samaritan who was passing by had compassion on the forlorn one, and took me to his home. Strange to say, his noble daughter fell in love with me, poor and friendless though I was. That lady is my wife and the mother of my son. I might tell you that her love for dear old Cambria is as deep and as intense as is her love for her offspring. Moreover, her heart is full of sympathy for the sons and daughters of human suffering wherever found, and she will consider it not only a pleasure but a duty to visit and administer consolation and solace to the distressed in this beautiful valley. But, says my friend on my right, you must not remain idle; you have work to do. My dear friend, the Rev. Thomas Charles, who is an honour to our country, is doing much for the intellectual, moral, and religious welfare of the people. You ought to support his efforts by every means in your power. Him I will aid with my purse and influence. I hope in this effort we shall be united, conformists and nonconformists, joining hand in hand and heart with heart, so that our people may become an intelligent and religious people. To bring about such a glorious consummation is the chief desire of my soul. I have only one more word to add, that is to thank you for your beautiful address. Be assured that I and my wife will endeavour to earn your good opinion. We will try to promote your commercial welfare, and with it your highest interest.”

* * * * *

McLiver in due time was brought before the bar of justice, and his guilt having been clearly established, was banished the kingdom. After undergoing ten years of punishment in Van Diemen’s Land, he obtained his release, and settled down in one of the Australian colonies as a small farmer. His uncle and cousin were finally apprehended, and being found guilty were transported. Donald was allowed to go free, as his guilt could not be legally established. Some years afterwards Mr. Wynn learned that he was engaged in the fish trade in one of the Orkney Islands.

TRADITIONS OF LLYN SAVATHAN; OR LLANGORSE, OR TALYLLYN LAKE.