34 LLANDDWYN 



failing voice of the man, using the same four notes in 

 the same manner, but transposed into a higher key, 

 until, in the fervour of her appeal, her voice travelled 

 a tone above the conventional range (for this mode 

 of expression is usual with the Welsh) and striking 

 the full dominant, rang out with electrifying effect 

 the boldness, as it seemed, of a commanding despair. 

 For these people were terribly in earnest, as others 

 before them had been even horribly so. 



Nearly two hours from the opening of the meeting, 

 the revivalist entered unobtrusively, but with a 

 strange appearance of haste as he divested himself 

 of his coat, considering he had taken so long to 

 come. Without any affectation of clerical attire, his 

 appearance had in it nothing unusual, unless it were 

 a mass of dark hair worn long as is the manner of 

 certain artists. He appeared to be a young man of 

 twenty-six to twenty-eight years of age, was fairly 

 tall and squarely built, with somewhat heavy features 

 but expressive eyes, square-browed and firm-lipped 

 features that had come of the working stock of the 

 land, but had taken on a certain pallor and refine- 

 ment of their own, which lay like a glove on a strong 

 hand. For the man is at bottom a strong man, of a 

 masterful, even imperious, temperament ; and as he 

 stands there facing the people, his captains about 

 him become insignificant, and he assumes command 

 as by natural right. 



But it is of this very masterfulness that his weak- 

 ness is born. Speaking excellent Welsh with the voice, 

 gesture, and power of a born orator, he evinces an 

 impatience and a coercive spirit which, being crossed 

 by any lack of responsiveness in his auditory, 



