[By Berwen Banks by Allen Raine]@TWC D-Link bookBy Berwen Banks CHAPTER VI 9/15
"What you want ?" The painting paraphernalia strapped on Gwynne Ellis's back had not made a favourable impression upon Shoni.
He took him for one of the "walking tramps" who infested the neighbourhood, and made an easy living out of the hospitable Welsh farmers. Valmai saw Shoni's mistake, and rebuked him in Welsh. "There is nothing to pardon," she said, turning to Mr.Ellis, "and if there is anything here that you would like to paint, I am sure my uncle would be quite willing.
Will I go and ask him ?" "Thank you very much; but if you go, the picture will be spoiled!" But Valmai, taking no notice of the implied compliment, began her way to the big door. "This lovely white cow! do you think your uncle would allow me to paint her ?" "Oh! yes, I am sure, indeed!" said Valmai, turning round; "but not to-day, she has been ill--to-morrow she will be out in the field, and then I will make a daisy chain for her, and she will look lovely in a picture." And she passed out into the sunshine. Gwynne Ellis heard a long-drawn "Oh!" of pleased surprise as she discovered Cardo hovering about the door, and he considerately entered into conversation with Shoni, endeavouring to express himself in his mother-tongue, but with that hesitation and indistinctness common to the dwellers in the counties bordering upon England, and to the "would-be genteel" of too many other parts of Wales, who, perfectly unconscious of the beauty of their own language, and ignorant of its literature, affect English manners and customs, and often pretend that English is more familiar to them than Welsh, a fatuous course of conduct which brings upon them only the sarcasm of the lower classes, and the contempt of the more educated. "What you is clabbering about, man ?" said Shoni indignantly.
"Keep to the English if that is your language, 'coss me is spoke English as well as Welsh." "Yes, I see you do," said Ellis, "and I am thankful to meet with a man so learned.
To know two languages means to look at everything from two points of view--from two sides, I mean.
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