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William Brangwen! Yes, yes, he’s got two lasses as teach-
ers, aside hisself. Ay, that’s him—that’s him! Why certainly
I know where he lives, back your life I do! Yi—WHAT place
do they ca’ it?’
‘Somerset Drive,’ repeated Gerald patiently. He knew his
own colliers fairly well.
‘Somerset Drive, for certain!’ said the collier, swinging
his arm as if catching something up. ‘Somerset Drive—yi! I
couldn’t for my life lay hold o’ the lercality o’ the place. Yis,
I know the place, to be sure I do—‘
He turned unsteadily on his feet, and pointed up the
dark, nighdeserted road.
‘You go up theer—an’ you ta’e th’ first—yi, th’ first turnin’
on your left—o’ that side—past Withamses tuffy shop—‘
‘I know,’ said Gerald.
‘Ay! You go down a bit, past wheer th’ water-man lives—
and then Somerset Drive, as they ca’ it, branches off on ‘t
right hand side—an’ there’s nowt but three houses in it, no
more than three, I believe,—an’ I’m a’most certain as theirs
is th’ last—th’ last o’ th’ three—you see—‘
‘Thank you very much,’ said Gerald. ‘Good-night.’
And he started off, leaving the tipsy man there standing
rooted.
Gerald went past the dark shops and houses, most of
them sleeping now, and twisted round to the little blind
road that ended on a field of darkness. He slowed down, as
he neared his goal, not knowing how he should proceed.
What if the house were closed in darkness?
But it was not. He saw a big lighted window, and heard

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