MY PEOPLE
soap on her face and hands and poured perfume on her garments; and towards evening she traversed to the gateway where the moorland road breaks into the tramping way which takes you to Morfa-on-the-Sea. William Jenkins was waiting for her, his bicycle against the hedge; he was cutting the letters of his name into the gatepost. On the fourth night Sara Jane lay awake in bed. She heard the sound of gravel falling on the window-pane, and she got up and let in the visitor.
The rumour began to be spread that William Jenkins, Shop General, was courting in bed with the wench of Penrhos, and it got to the ears of Simon and Beca.
“What for you want to court William Shinkins, Shop General, in bed for?” said Simon.
“There's bad you are,” said Beca.
“Is not Bertha Daviss saying that he comes up here on his old iron horse?” said Simon.
50
