InaboutanhourIcametoawildmoor；themoorextendedformilesandmiles。Itwasboundedontheeastandsouthbyimmensehillsandmoels。OnIwalkedataroundpace，thesunscorchingmesore，alongadusty，hillyroad，nowup，nowdown。Nothingcouldbeconceivedmorecheerlessthanthesceneryaround。Thegroundoneachsideoftheroadwasmossyandrushy—nohouses—insteadofthemwereneatstacks，hereandthere，standingintheirblackness。
　　Nothinglivingtobeseenexceptafewmiserablesheeppickingthewretchedherbage，orlyingpantingontheshadysideofthepeatclumps。AtlengthIsawsomethingwhichappearedtobeasheetofwateratthebottomofalowgroundonmyright。Itlookedfaroff—"ShallIgoandseewhatitis？"thoughtItomyself。"No，"
　　thoughtI。"Itistoofaroff"—soonIwalkedtillIlostsightofit，whenIrepentedandthoughtIwouldgoandseewhatitwas。
　　SoIdasheddownthemooryslopeonmyright，andpresentlysawtheobjectagain—andnowIsawthatitwaswater。Ispedtowardsitthroughgorseandheather，occasionallyleapingadeepdrain。AtlastIreachedit。Itwasasmalllake。WeariedandpantingI
　　flungmyselfonitsbankandgazeduponit。
　　Therelaythelakeinthelowbottom，surroundedbytheheatheryhillocks；thereitlayquitestill，thehotsunreflecteduponitssurface，whichshonelikeapolishedblueshield。Neartheshoreitwasshallow，atleastnearthatshoreuponwhichIlay。Butfartheron，myeye，practisedindecidinguponthedepthsofwaters，sawreasontosupposethatitsdepthwasverygreat。AsI
　　gazeduponitmymindindulgedinstrangemusings。Ithoughtoftheafanc，acreaturewhichsomehavesupposedtobetheharmlessandindustriousbeaver，othersthefrightfulanddestructivecrocodile。Iwonderedwhethertheafancwasthecrocodileorthebeaver，andspeedilyhadnodoubtthatthenamewasoriginallyappliedtothecrocodile。
　　"Oh，whocandoubt，"thoughtI，"thatthewordwasoriginallyintendedforsomethingmonstrousandhorrible？Istherenotsomethinghorribleinthelookandsoundofthewordafanc，somethingconnectedwiththeopeningandshuttingofimmensejaws，andtheswallowingofwrithingprey？IsnotthewordafittingbrotheroftheArabictimsah，denotingthedreadhornylizardofthewaters？Moreover，havewenotthevoiceoftraditionthattheafancwassomethingmonstrous？DoesitnotsaythatHutheMighty，theinventorofhusbandry，whobroughttheCumryfromthesummer—
　　country，drewtheoldafancoutofthelakeoflakeswithhisfourgiganticoxen？Wouldhehavehadrecoursetothemtodrawoutthelittleharmlessbeaver？Oh，surelynot。YethaveInodoubtthatwhenthecrocodilehaddisappearedfromthelands，wheretheCumriclanguagewasspoken，thenameafancwasappliedtothebeaver，probablyhissuccessorinthepool，thebeavernowcalledinCumricLlostlydan，orthebroad—tailed，fortradition’svoiceisstrongthatthebeaverhasatonetimebeencalledtheafanc。"ThenI
　　wonderedwhetherthepoolbeforemehadbeenthehauntoftheafanc，consideredbothascrocodileandbeaver。Isawnoreasontosupposethatithadnot。"Ifcrocodiles，"thoughtI，"everexistedinBritain，andwhoshallsaythattheyhavenot，seeingthatthereremainshavebeendiscovered，whyshouldtheynothavehauntedthispool？IfbeaverseverexistedinBritain，anddonottraditionandGiraldussaythattheyhave，whyshouldtheynothaveexistedinthispool？
　　"Atatimealmostinconceivablyremote，whenthehillsaroundwerecoveredwithwoods，throughwhichtheelkandthebisonandthewildcowstrolled，whenmenwererarethroughoutthelandsandunlikeinmostthingstothepresentrace—atsuchaperiod—andsuchaperiodtherehasbeen—Icaneasilyconceivethattheafanc—crocodilehauntedthispool，andthatwhentheelkorbisonorwildcowcametodrinkofitswatersthegrimbeastwouldoccasionallyrushforth，andseizinghisbellowingvictim，wouldreturnwithittothedeepsbeforemetoluxuriateathiseaseuponitsflesh。Andatatimelessremote，whenthecrocodilewasnomore，andthoughthewoodsstillcoveredthehills，andwildcattlestrolledabout，menweremorenumerousthanbefore，andlessunlikethepresentrace，Icaneasilyconceivethislaketohavebeenthehauntoftheafanc—beaver，thatheherebuiltcunninglyhishouseoftreesandclay，andthattothislakethenativewouldcomewithhisnetandhisspeartohunttheanimalforhispreciousfur。
　　Probablyifthedepthsofthatpoolweresearchedrelicsofthecrocodileandthebeavermightbefound，alongwithotherstrangethingsconnectedwiththeperiodsinwhichtheyrespectivelylived。
　　HappywereIifforabriefspaceIcouldbecomeaCingalesethatI
　　mightswimoutfarintothatpool，divedownintoitsdeepestpartandendeavourtodiscoveranystrangethingswhichbeneathitssurfacemaylie。"MuchinthisguiserolledmythoughtsasIlaystretchedonthemarginofthelake。
　　SatiatedwithmusingIatlastgotupandendeavouredtoregaintheroad。Ifounditatlast，thoughnotwithoutconsiderabledifficulty。Ipassedovermoors，blackandbarren，alongadustyroadtillIcametoavalley；Iwasnowalmostchokedwithdustandthirst，andlongedfornothingintheworldsomuchasforwater；
　　suddenlyIhearditsblessedsound，andperceivedarivuletonmylefthand。Itwascrossedbytwobridges，oneimmenselyoldandterriblydilapidated，theotheroldenough，butinbetterrepair—
　　wentanddrankundertheoldestbridgeofthetwo。Thewatertastedofthepeatofthemoors，neverthelessIdrankgreedilyofit，foronemustnotbeover—delicateuponthemoors。
　　RefreshedwithmydraughtIproceededbrisklyonmyway，andinalittletimesawarangeofwhitebuildings，divergingfromtheroadontherighthand，thegableofthefirstabuttinguponit。Akindoffarm—yardwasbeforethem。Arespectable—lookingwomanwasstandingintheyard。Iwentuptoherandinquiredthenameoftheplace。
　　"Thesehouses，sir，"saidshe，"arecalledTaiHirionMignaint。
　　LookoverthatdoorandyouwillseeT。H。whichlettersstandforTaiHirion。Mignaintisthenameoftheplacewheretheystand。"
　　Ilooked，anduponastonewhichformedthelintelofthemiddlemostdoorIread"T。H1630。"
　　ThewordsTaiHirionitwillbeaswelltosaysignifythelonghouses。
　　Ilookedlongandsteadfastlyattheinscription，mymindfullofthoughtsofthepast。
　　"Manyayearhasrolledbysincethesehouseswerebuilt，"saidI，asIsatdownonastepping—stone。
　　"Manyindeed，sir，"saidthewoman，"andmanyastrangethinghashappened。"
　　"DidyoueverhearofoneOliverCromwell？"saidI。
　　"Oh，yes，sir，andofKingCharlestoo。Themenofbothhavebeeninthisyardandhavebaitedtheirhorses；aye，andhavemountedtheirhorsesfromthestoneonwhichyousit。"
　　"Isupposetheywerehardlyheretogether？"saidI。
　　"No，no，sir，"saidthewoman，"theywerebloodyenemies，andcouldneversettheirhorsestogether。"
　　"Aretheselonghouses，"saidI，"inhabitedbydifferentfamilies？"
　　"Onlybyone，sir，theymakenowonefarm—house。"
　　"Areyouthemistressofit，"saidI。
　　"Iam，sir，andmyhusbandisthemaster。CanIbringyouanything，sir？"
　　"Somewater，"saidI，"forIamthirsty，thoughIdrankundertheoldbridge。"
　　Thegoodwomanbroughtmeabasinofdeliciousmilkandwater。
　　"Whatarethenamesofthetwobridges，"saidI，"alittlewayfromhere？"
　　"Theyarecalled，sir，theoldandnewbridgeofTaiHirion；atleastwecallthemso。"
　　"Andwhatdoyoucalltheffrwdthatrunsbeneaththem？"
　　"Ibelieve，sir，itiscalledtheriverTwerin。"
　　"Doyouknowalakefarupthereamidstthemoors？"
　　"Ihaveseenit，sir；theycallitLlynTwerin。"
　　"DoestheriverTwerinflowfromit？"
　　"Ibelieveitdoes，sir，butIdonotknow。"
　　"Isthelakedeep？"
　　"Ihaveheardthatitisverydeep，sir，somuchsothatnobodyknowsit’sdepth。"
　　"Aretherefishinit？"
　　"Digon，sir，digoniawn，andsomeverylarge。IoncesawaPen—
　　hwyadfromthatlakewhichweighedfiftypounds。"
　　AfteralittlefartherconversationIgotup，andthankingthekindwomandeparted。IsoonleftthemoorsbehindmeandcontinuedwalkingtillIcametoafewhousesonthemarginofameadoworfeninavalleythroughwhichthewaytrendedtotheeast。Theywerealmostovershadowedbyanenormousmountainwhichrosebeyondthefenonthesouth。Seeingahousewhichboreasign，andatthedoorofwhichahorsestoodtied，Iwentin，andawomancomingtomeetmeinakindofpassage，IaskedherifIcouldhavesomeale。
　　"Ofthebest，sir，"shereplied，andconductedmedownthepassageintoaneatroom，partlykitchen，partlyparlour，thewindowofwhichlookedoutuponthefen。Arustic—lookingmansatsmokingatatablewithajugofalebeforehim。Isatdownnearhim，andthegoodwomanbroughtmeasimilarjugofale，whichontastingI
　　foundexcellent。Myspiritswhichhadbeenforsometimeveryflaggingpresentlyrevived，andIenteredintoconversationwithmycompanionatthetable。FromhimIlearnedthathewasafarmeroftheneighbourhood，thatthehorsetiedbeforethedoorbelongedtohim，thatthepresenttimeswereverybadfortheproducersofgrain，withveryslightlikelihoodofimprovement；thattheplaceatwhichwewerewascalledRhydyfen，orthefordacrossthefen；
　　thatitwasjusthalfwaybetweenFestiniogandBala，thattheclergymanoftheparishwascalledMrPughe，agoodkindofman，butverypurblindinaspiritualsense；andfinallythattherewasnosafereligionintheworld，savethatoftheCalvinistic—
　　Methodists，towhichmycompanionbelonged。
　　HavingfinishedmyaleIpaidforit，andleavingtheCalvinisticfarmerstillsmoking，IdepartedfromRhydyfen。OnIwentalongthevalley，theenormoushillonmyright，amoelofabouthalfitsheightonmyleft，andatallhillboundingtheprospectintheeast，thedirectioninwhichIwasgoing。Afteralittletime，meetingtwowomen，Iaskedthemthenameofthemountaintothesouth。
　　"ArenigVawr，"theyreplied，orsomethinglikeit。
　　PresentlymeetingfourmenIputthesamequestiontotheforemost，astout，burly，intelligent—lookingfellow，ofaboutfifty。Hegavemethesamenameasthewomen。Iaskedifanybodyliveduponit。
　　"No，"saidhe，"toocoldforman。"
　　"Fox？"saidI。
　　"No！toocoldforfox。"
　　"Crow？"saidI。
　　"No，toocoldforcrow；crowwouldbestarveduponit。"Hethenlookedmeintheface，expectingprobablythatIshouldsmile。
　　I，however，lookedathimwithallthegravityofajudge，whereuponhealsoobservedthegravityofajudge，andwecontinuedlookingateachotherwithallthegravityofjudgestillwebothsimultaneouslyturnedaway，hefollowedbyhiscompanionsgoinghispath，andIgoingmine。
　　IsubsequentlyrememberedthatArenigismentionedinaWelshpoem，thoughinanythingbutaflatteringandadvantageousmanner。ThewritercallsitArenigddiffaithorbarrenArenig，andsaysthatitinterceptsfromhimtheviewofhisnativeland。Arenigiscertainlybarrenenough，forthereisneithertreenorshrubuponit，butthereissomethingmajesticinitshugebulk。OfallthehillswhichIsawinWalesnonemadeagreaterimpressionuponme。
　　TowardseveningIarrivedataverysmallandprettyvillageinthemiddleofwhichwasatollgate。Seeinganoldwomanseatedatthedoorofthegate—houseIaskedherthenameofthevillage。"I
　　havenoSaesneg！"shescreamedout。
　　"IhaveplentyofCumraeg，"saidI，andrepeatedmyquestion。
　　WhereuponshetoldmethatitwascalledTrefyTalcot—thevillageofthetollgate。Thatitwasaverynicevillage，andthatshewasbornthere。ShethenpointedtotwoyoungwomenwhowerewalkingtowardsthegateataveryslowpaceandtoldmetheywereEnglish。"Idonotknowthem，"saidI。Theoldlady，whowassomewhatdeaf，thinkingthatIsaidIdidnotknowEnglish，leeredatmecomplacently，andsaidthatinthatcase，Iwaslikeherself，forshedidnotspeakawordofEnglish，addingthatabodyshouldnotbeconsideredafoolfornotspeakingEnglish。Shethensaidthattheyoungwomenhadbeentakingawalktogether，andthattheyweremuchineachother’scompanyforthesakeofconversation，andnowonder，asthepoorsimpletonscouldnotspeakawordofWelsh。
　　IthoughtofthebeamandmotementionedinScripture，andthencastaglanceofcompassiononthetwopooryoungwomen。ForamomentIfanciedmyselfinthetimesofOwenGlendower，andthatI
　　sawtwofemales，whomhismaraudershadcarriedofffromCheshireorShropshiretotoilandslaveintheWelshery，walkingtogetherafterthelaboursofthedayweredone，andbemoaningtheirmisfortunesintheirownhomelyEnglish。
　　ShortlyafterleavingthevillageofthetollgateIcametoabeautifulvalley。Onmyrighthandwasariverthefartherbankofwhichwasfringedwithtrees；onmyleftwasagentleascent，thelowerpartofwhichwascoveredwithrichgrass，andtheupperwithyellowluxuriantcorn；alittlefartheronwasagreengrove，behindwhichroseupamoel。AmorebewitchingsceneIneverbeheld。CeresandPanseemedinthisplacetohavemettoholdtheirbridal。Thesunnowdescendingshonenoblyuponthewhole。
　　Afterstayingforsometimetogaze，Iproceeded，andsoonmetseveralcarts，fromthedriverofoneofwhichIlearnedthatIwasyetthreemilesfromBala。Icontinuedmywayandcametoabridge，alittlewaybeyondwhichIovertooktwomen，oneofwhom，anoldfellow，heldaverylongwhipinhishand，andtheother，amuchyoungermanwithacaponhishead，ledahorse。WhenIcameuptheoldfellowtookoffhishattome，andIforthwithenteredintoconversationwithhim。IsoongatheredfromhimthathewasahorsedealerfromBala，andthathehadbeenoutontheroadwithhisservanttobreakahorse。IastonishedtheoldmanwithmyknowledgeofWelshandhorses，andlearnedfromhim—forconceivingIwasoneoftherightsort，hewasverycommunicative—
　　twoorthreecuriousparticularsconnectedwiththeWelshmodeofbreakinghorses。Discourseshortenedthewaytobothofus，andweweresooninBala。Inthemiddleofthetownhepointedtoalargeold—fashionedhouseontherighthand，atthebottomofalittlesquare，andsaid，"Yourhonourwasjustaskingmeaboutaninn。
　　ThatisthebestinninWales，andifyourhonourisasgoodajudgeofaninnasofahorse，Ithinkyouwillsaysowhenyouleaveit。Prydnawnda’chwi！"
　　CHAPTERXLIX
　　TomJenkins—AleofBala—SoberMoments—LocalPrejudices—TheStates—UnprejudicedMan—WelshPensilvanianSettlers—DraperyLine—EveningSaunter。
　　SCARCELYhadIenteredthedooroftheinnwhenamanpresentedhimselftomewithalowbow。Hewasaboutfiftyyearsofage，somewhatabovethemiddlesize，andhadgrizzlyhairandadark，freckledcountenance，inwhichmethoughtIsawaconsiderabledashofhumour。Heworebrownclothes，hadnohatonhishead，andheldanapkininhishand。"Areyouthemasterofthishotel？"saidI。
　　"No，yourhonour，"hereplied，"Iamonlythewaiter，butI
　　officiateformymasterinallthings；mymasterhasgreatconfidenceinme，sir。"
　　"AndIhavenodoubt，"saidI，"thathecouldnotplacehisconfidenceinanyonemoreworthy。"
　　Withabowyetlowerthantheprecedingonethewaiterrepliedwithasmirkandagrimace，"Thanks，yourhonour，foryourgoodopinion。
　　IassureyourhonourthatIamdeeplyobliged。"
　　Hisair，manner，andevenaccent，weresolikethoseofaFrenchman，thatIcouldnotforbearaskinghimwhetherhewasone。
　　Heshookhisheadandreplied，"No，yourhonour，no，IamnotaFrenchman，butanativeofthispoorcountry，TomJenkinsbyname。"
　　"Well，"saidI，"youreallylookandspeaklikeaFrenchman，butnowonder；theWelshandFrencharemuchofthesameblood。Pleasenowtoshowmeintotheparlour。"
　　Heopenedthedoorofalargeapartment，placedachairbyatablewhichstoodinthemiddle，andthen，withanotherbow，requestedtoknowmyfartherpleasure。AfterorderingdinnerIsaidthatasI
　　wasthirstyIshouldliketohavesomealeforthwith。
　　"Aleyoushallhave，yourhonour，"saidTom，"andsomeofthebestalethatcanbedrunk。Thishouseisfamousforale。"
　　"IsupposeyougetyouralefromLlangollen，"saidI，"whichiscelebratedforitsaleoverWales。"
　　"GetouralefromLlangollen？"saidTom，withsneerofcontempt，"no，noranythingelse。Asforthealeitwasbrewedinthishousebyyourhonour’shumbleservant。"
　　"Oh，"saidI，"ifyoubrewedit，itmustofcoursebegood。Praybringmesomeimmediately，forIamanxioustodrinkaleofyourbrewing。"
　　"Yourhonourshallbeobeyed，"saidTom，anddisappearingreturnedinatwinklingwithatrayonwhichstoodajugfilledwithliquorandaglass。Heforthwithfilledtheglass，andpointingtoitscontentssaid：
　　"There，yourhonour，didyoueverseesuchale？Observeitscolour！Doesitnotlookforalltheworldaspaleanddelicateascowslipwine？"
　　"Iwishitmaynottastelikecowslipwine，"saidI；"totellyouthetruth，Iamnoparticularadmirerofalethatlookspaleanddelicate；forIalwaysthinkthereisnostrengthinit。"
　　"Tasteit，yourhonour，"saidTom，"andtellmeifyouevertastedsuchale。"
　　Itastedit，andthentookacopiousdraught。Thealewasindeedadmirable，equaltothebestthatIhadeverbeforedrunk—richandmellow，withscarcelyanysmackofthehopinit，andthoughsopaleanddelicatetotheeyenearlyasstrongasbrandy。I
　　commendedithighlytotheworthyJenkins，whoexultinglyexclaimed：
　　"ThatLlangollenaleindeed！no，no！alelikethat，yourhonour，wasneverbrewedinthattrumperyholeLlangollen。"
　　"YouseemtohaveaverylowopinionofLlangollen？"saidI。
　　"HowcanIhaveanythingbutalowopinionofit，yourhonour？A
　　trumperyholeitis，andeverwillremainso。"
　　"Manypeopleofthefirstqualitygotovisitit，"saidI。
　　"ThatisbecauseitliessohandyforEngland，yourhonour。Ifitdidnot，nobodywouldgotoseeit。WhatistheretoseeinLlangollen？"
　　"Thereisnotmuchtoseeinthetown，Iadmit，"saidI，"butthesceneryaboutitisbeautiful：whatmountains！"
　　"Mountains，yourhonour，mountains！well，wehavemountainstoo，andasbeautifulasthoseofLlangollen。Thenwehaveourlake，ourLlynTegid，thelakeofbeauty。ShowmeanythinglikethatnearLlangollen？"
　　"Then，"saidI，"thereisyourmound，yourTomenBala。TheLlangollenpeoplecanshownothinglikethat。"
　　TomJenkinslookedatmeforamomentwithsomesurprise，andthensaid："Iseeyouhavebeenherebefore，sir。"
　　"No，"saidI，"never，butIhavereadabouttheTomenBalainbooks，bothWelshandEnglish。"
　　"Youhave，sir，"saidTom。"Well，Iamrejoicedtoseesobook—
　　learnedagentlemaninourhouse。TheTomenBalahaspuzzledmanyahead。Whatdothebookswhichmentionitsayaboutit，yourhonour？"
　　"Verylittle，"saidI，"beyondmentioningit；whatdothepeopleheresayofit？"
　　"Allkindsofstrangethings，yourhonour。"
　　"Dotheysaywhobuiltit？"
　　"SomesaytheTylwythTegbuiltit，othersthatitwascastupoveradeadkingbyhispeople。Thetruthis，nobodyhereknowswhobuiltit，oranythingaboutit，savethatitisawonder。Ah，thosepeopleofLlangollencanshownothinglikeit。"
　　"Come，"saidI，"youmustnotbesoharduponthepeopleofLlangollen。Theyappeartomeuponthewholetobeaneminentlyrespectablebody。"
　　TheCelticwaitergaveagenuineFrenchshrug。"Excuseme，yourhonour，forbeingofadifferentopinion。Theyarealldrunkards。"
　　"IhaveoccasionallyseendrunkenpeopleatLlangollen，"saidI，"butIhavelikewiseseenagreatmanysober。"
　　"Thatis，yourhonour，youhaveseenthemintheirsobermoments；
　　butifyouhadwatched，yourhonour，ifyouhadkeptyoureyeonthem，youwouldhaveseenthemreelingtoo。"
　　"ThatIcanhardlybelieve，"saidI。
　　"Yourhonourcan’t！butIcanwhoknowthem。Theyarealldrunkards，andnobodycanliveamongthemwithoutbeingadrunkard。
　　Therewasmynephew—"
　　"Whatofhim？"saidI。
　　"WhyhewenttoLlangollen，yourhonour，anddiedofadrunkenfeverinlessthanamonth。"
　　"Well，butmighthenothavediedofthesame，ifhehadremainedathome？"
　　"No，yourhonour，no！helivedheremanyayear，andneverdiedofadrunkenfever；hewasratherfondofliquor，itistrue，butheneverdiedatBalaofadrunkenfever；butwhenhewenttoLlangollenhedid。Now，yourhonour，ifthereisnotsomethingmoredrunkenaboutLlangollenthanaboutBala，whydidmynephewdieatLlangollenofadrunkenfever？"
　　"Really，"saidI，"youaresuchaclosereasoner，thatIdonotliketodisputewithyou。Oneobservationhowever，Iwishtomake：
　　IhavelivedatLlangollen，without，Ihope，becomingadrunkard。"
　　"Oh，yourhonourisoutofthequestion，"saidtheCelticwaiterwithastrangegrimace。"YourhonourisanEnglishman，anEnglishgentleman，andofcoursecouldliveallthedaysofyourlifeatLlangollenwithoutbeingadrunkard，he，he！WhoeverheardofanEnglishman，especiallyanEnglishgentleman，beingadrunkard，he，he，he。Andnow，yourhonour，prayexcuseme，forImustgoandseethatyourhonour’sdinnerisbeinggotreadyinasuitablemanner。"
　　ThereuponheleftmewithabowyetlowerthananyIhadpreviouslyseenhimmake。IfhismannersputmeinmindofthoseofaFrenchman，hislocalprejudicesbroughtpowerfullytomyrecollectionthoseofaSpaniard。TomJenkinsswearsbyBalaandabusesLlangollen，andcallsitspeopledrunkards，justasaSpaniardexaltshisownvillageandvituperatesthenextanditsinhabitants，whom，thoughhewillnotcallthemdrunkards，unlessindeedhehappenstobeaGallegan，hewillnothesitatetoterm"unacatervadepillosyembusteros。"
　　Thedinnerwhenitappearedwasexcellent，andconsistedofmanymorearticlesthanIhadordered。Afterdinner，asIsat"trifling"withmycoldbrandyandwater，anindividualentered，ashortthickdumpymanaboutthirty，withbrownclothesandabroadhat，andholdinginhishandalargeleatherbag。Hegavemeafamiliarnod，andpassingbythetableatwhichIsat，toonenearthewindow，heflungthebaguponit，andseatinghimselfinachairwithhisprofiletowardsme，heuntiedthebag，fromwhichhepouredalargequantityofsovereignsuponthetableandfelltocountingthem。Aftercountingthemthreetimesheplacedthemagaininthebagwhichhetiedup，thentakingasmallbook，seeminglyanaccount—book，outofhispocket，hewrotesomethinginitwithapencil，thenputtingitinhispockethetookthebagandunlockingabeaufetwhichstoodatsomedistancebehindhimagainstthewall，heputthebagintoadrawer；thenagainlockingthebeaufethesatdowninthechair，thentiltingthechairbackuponitshindlegshekeptswayinghimselfbackwardsandforwardsuponit，histoessometimesupontheground，sometimesmountinguntiltheytappedagainstthenethersideofthetable，surveyingmeallthetimewithaqueerkindofasideglance，andoccasionallyejectingsalivauponthecarpetinthedirectionofplacewhereI
　　sat。
　　"Fineweather，sir，"saidI，atlast，rathertiredofbeingskewedandspitatinthismanner。
　　"Whyyaas，"saidthefigure；"thedayistolerablyfine，butIhaveseenafiner。"
　　"Well，Idon’tremembertohaveseenone，"saidI；"itisasfineadayasIhaveseenduringthepresentseason，andfinerweatherthanIhaveseenduringthisseasonIdonotthinkIeversawbefore。"
　　"TheweatherisfineenoughforBritain，"saidthefigure，"butthereareothercountriesbesidesBritain。"
　　"Why，"saidI，"there’stheStates，’tistrue。"
　　"EverbeenintheStates，Mr？"saidthefigurequickly。
　　"HaveIeverbeenintheStates，"saidI，"haveIeverbeenintheStates？"
　　"PerhapsyouareoftheStates，Mr；Ithoughtsofromthefirst。"
　　"TheStatesarefinecountries，"saidI。
　　"Iguesstheyare，Mr。"
　　"ItwouldbenoeasymattertowhiptheStates。"
　　"SoIshouldguess，Mr。"
　　"Thatis，single—handed，"saidI。
　　"Single—handed，nonordouble—handedeither。LetEnglandandFranceandtheStatewhichtheyarenowtryingtowhipwithoutbeingabletodoit，that’sRussia，alluniteinauniontowhiptheUnion，andifinsteadofwhippingtheStatestheydon’tgetawhippingthemselves，callmeabrayingjackass—"
　　"Isee，Mr，"saidI，"thatyouareasensibleman，becauseyouspeakverymuchmyownopinion。However，asIamanunprejudicedperson，likeyourself，Iwishtodojusticetoothercountries—
　　theStatesarefinecountries—butthereareotherfinecountriesintheworld。IsaynothingofEngland；catchmesayinganythinggoodofEngland；butIcallWalesafinecountry；gainsayitwhomay，IcallWalesafinecountry。"
　　"Soitis，Mr。"
　　"I’llgofarther，"saidI；"Iwishtodojusticetoeverything：I
　　calltheWelshafinelanguage。"
　　"Soitis，Mr。Ah，Iseeyouareanunprejudicedman。Youdon’tunderstandWelsh，Iguess。"