MORNING SERIAL

AND if mam’s satisfied — well, I suppose that’s all that really matters in this house.”

His father looked hard at him. “Ieuan bach, don’t get to feeling that way about your mother,” he said, pained.

“After all, if she hadn’t put you into the foundry we’d be in a mighty bad way right now. You’re helping us out a lot with your wages every week. Twelve-and- three for the first year wasn’t much, I know, but now you’re earning twenty-five shillings. That’s a big help, Ieuan, and if you don’t realize it, your mother and I do. And let me tell you again, my boy — there are far worse jobs than being an apprentice moulder. Take those young lads in the tinworks, for example. A pretty tough life they get, and they earn their money — every penny of it. You take things too seriously, Ieuan. This talk about exams and matriculating …. I know it’s a good idea. But working in the foundry is enough, boy. You need all your energy for that. So don’t let it worry you like it does. You want to go out and enjoy yourself. Make the most of what little time off you get, or you’ll end up in a corner. And then who’ll want you? Nobody — you take it from me. Look here, the fair is on tonight. Why don’t you take a walk up there and have a good time?”

Ieuan pursed his lips. What was the use of building up hopes, cherishing dreams of a future that would bring him happiness and a richer benefit to his parents? Even his father, from whom he had expected so much, had no encouragement to offer him. Was dad blind? Could he still not realize that he wanted desperately to be out of the foundry?

Dad once had an ambition, but nothing came of it. Was he now, in some subtle, stubborn way, determined to stifle whatever hopes he had for his future?

If Frank and Mr. Griffiths were prepared to interest themselves in him and to offer encouragement, then surely his own parents could help? But it was evident that all they were concerned with was his earning capacity. All this arguing, quarrelling, the vague excuses — just because he felt that he could never adjust himself to the foundry.