Godblesshim！IthinkIseehimnowwithhisbald，shiningpate，andhisfingeronanopenpageof’Preston’sConveyancing。’"
　　"Sureyouarenotalimbofthelaw？"saidMrR—。
　　"No，"saidI，"butImightbe，forIservedanapprenticeshiptoit。"
　　"Iamgladtohearit，"saidMrR—，shakingmebythehand。"Takemyadvice，comeandsettleatLlangollenandbemypartner。"
　　"IfIdid，"saidI，"Iamafraidthatourpartnershipwouldbeofshortduration；youwouldfindmetooeccentricandflightyforthelaw。Haveyouagoodpractice？"Idemandedafterapause。
　　"Ihavenoreasontocomplainofit，"saidhe，withacontentedair。
　　"Isupposeyouaremarried？"saidI。
　　"Ohyes，"saidhe，"Ihavebothawifeandfamily。"
　　"AnativeofLlangollen？"saidI。
　　"No，"saidhe："IwasbornatLlanSilin，aplacesomewayoffacrosstheBerwyn。"
　　"LlanSilin？"saidI，"Ihaveagreatdesiretovisititsomedayorother。"
　　"Whyso？"saidhe，"itoffersnothinginteresting。"
　　"Ibegyourpardon，"saidI；"unlessIammuchmistaken，thetombofthegreatpoetHuwMorrisisinLlanSilinchurchyard。"
　　"IsitpossiblethatyouhaveeverheardofHuwMorris？"
　　"Ohyes，"saidI；"andIhavenotonlyheardofhimbutamacquaintedwithhiswritings；Ireadthemwhenaboy。"
　　"Howveryextraordinary，"saidhe；"well，youarequiterightabouthistomb；whenaboyIhaveplayeddozensoftimesontheflatstonewithmyschoolfellows。"
　　WetalkedofWelshpoetry；hesaidhehadnotdippedmuchintoit，owingtoitsdifficulty；thathewasmasterofthecolloquiallanguageofWales，butunderstoodverylittleofthelanguageofWelshpoetry，whichwasawidelydifferentthing。IaskedhimwhetherhehadseenOwenPugh’stranslationofParadiseLost。Hesaidhehad，butcouldonlypartiallyunderstandit，adding，however，thatthosepartswhichhecouldmakeoutappearedtohimtobeadmirablyexecuted，thatamongstthesetherewasonewhichhadparticularlystruckhimnamely：
　　"AreucolorygnucrochDaranau。"
　　TherenderingofMilton’s"AndontheirhingesgrateHarshthunder。"
　　which，grandasitwas，wascertainlyequalledbytheWelshversion，andperhapssurpassed，forthathewasdisposedtothinkthattherewassomethingmoreterriblein"crochdaranau，"thanin"harshthunder。"
　　"Iamdisposedtothinksotoo，"saidI。"NowcanyoutellmewhereOwenPughisburied？"
　　"Icannot，"saidhe；"butIsupposeyoucantellme；you，whoknowtheburying—placeofHuwMorrisareprobablyacquaintedwiththeburying—placeofOwenPugh。"
　　"No，"saidI，"Iamnot。UnlikeHuwMorris，OwenPughhasneverhadhishistorywritten，thoughperhapsquiteasinterestingahistorymightbemadeoutofthelifeofthequietstudentasoutofthatofthepopularpoet。AssoonaseverIlearnwherehisgraveisIshallassuredlymakeapilgrimagetoit。"MrR—thenaskedmeagoodmanyquestionsaboutSpain，andacertainsingularraceofpeopleaboutwhomIhavewrittenagooddeal。Beforegoingawayhetoldmethatafriendofhis，ofthenameofJ—，wouldcalluponme，providedhethoughtIshouldnotconsiderhisdoingsoanintrusion。"Lethimcomebyallmeans，"saidI；"Ishallneverlookuponavisitfromafriendofyoursinthelightofanintrusion。"
　　Inafewdayscamehisfriend，afinetallathleticmanofaboutforty。"YouarenoWelshman，"saidI，asIlookedathim。
　　"No，"saidhe，"IamanativeofLincolnshire，butIhaveresidedinLlangollenforthirteenyears。"
　　"Inwhatcapacity？"saidI。
　　"Inthewine—trade，"saidhe。
　　"InsteadofcomingtoLlangollen，"saidI，"andenteringintothewine—trade，youshouldhavegonetoLondon，andenlistedintotheLifeGuards。"
　　"Well，"saidhe，withasmile，"Ihadonceortwicethoughtofdoingso。However，fatebroughtmetoLlangollen，andIamnotsorrythatshedid，forIhavedoneverywellhere。"
　　Isoonfoundoutthathewasawell—readandindeedhighlyaccomplishedman。LikehisfriendR—，MrJ—askedmeagreatmanyquestionsaboutSpain。BydegreeswegotonthesubjectofSpanishliterature。IsaidthattheliteratureofSpainwasafirst—rateliterature，butthatitwasnotveryextensive。HeaskedmewhetherIdidnotthinkthatLopedeVegawasmuchoverrated。
　　"Notabit，"saidI；"LopedeVegawasoneofthegreatestgeniusesthateverlived。Hewasnotonlyagreatdramatistandlyricpoet，butaprosewriterofmarvellousability，asheprovedbyseveraladmirabletales，amongstwhichisthebestghoststoryintheworld。"
　　AnotherremarkablepersonwhomIgotacquaintedwithaboutthistimewasA—，theinnkeeper，wholivedalittlewaydowntheroad，ofwhomJohnJoneshadspokensohighly，saying，amongstotherthings，thathewastheclebberestmaninLlangollen。OnedayasI
　　waslookinginathisgate，hecameforth，tookoffhishat，andaskedmetodohimthehonourtocomeinandlookathisgrounds。
　　Icomplied，andasheshowedmeabouthetoldmehishistoryinnearlythefollowingwords：—
　　"IamaDevonianbybirth。FormanyyearsIservedatravellinggentleman，whomIaccompaniedinallhiswanderings。IhavebeenfivetimesacrosstheAlps，andineverycapitalofEurope。Mymasteratlengthdyingleftmeinhiswillsomethinghandsome，whereuponIdeterminedtobeaservantnolonger，butmarried，andcametoLlangollen，whichIhadvisitedlongbeforewithmymaster，andhadbeenmuchpleasedwith。Afteralittletimethesepremisesbecomingvacant，Itookthem，andsetupinthepublicline，moretohavesomethingtodo，thanforthesakeofgain，aboutwhich，indeed，Ineednottroublemyselfmuch，mypoor，dearmaster，asI
　　saidbefore，havingdoneveryhandsomelybymeathisdeath。HereIhavelivedforseveralyears，receivingstrangers，andimprovingmyhouseandgrounds。Iamtolerablycomfortable，butconfessI
　　sometimeslookbacktomyformerrovingliferatherwistfully，forthereisnolifesomerryasthetraveller’s。"
　　Hewasaboutthemiddleageandsomewhatunderthemiddlesize。I
　　hadagooddealofconversationwithhim，andwasmuchstruckwithhisfrank，straightforwardmanner。HeenjoyedahighcharacteratLlangollenforprobityandlikewiseforcleverness，beingreckonedanexcellentgardener，andanalmostunequalledcook。Hismaster，thetravellinggentleman，mightwellleavehimahandsomeremembranceinhiswill，forhehadnotonlybeenanexcellentandtrustyservanttohim，buthadoncesavedhislifeatthehazardofhisown，amongstthefrightfulprecipicesoftheAlps。Suchretiredgentlemen’sservants，orsuchpublicanseither，ashonestA—，arenoteverydaytobefound。Hisgrounds，principallylaidoutbyhisownhands，exhibitedaninfinityoftaste，andhishouse，intowhichIlooked，wasaperfectpictureofneatness。AnytouristvisitingLlangollenforashortperiodcoulddonobetterthantakeuphisabodeatthehostelryofhonestA—。
　　CHAPTERLVI
　　RingingofBells—BattleofAlma—TheBrownJug—AleofLlangollen—Reverses。
　　ONthethirdofOctober—Ithinkthatwasthedate—asmyfamilyandmyself，attendedbytrustyJohnJones，werereturningonfootfromvisitingaparknotfarfromRhiwabonweheard，whenaboutamilefromLlangollen，asuddenringingofthebellsoftheplace，andaloudshouting。Presentlyweobservedapostmanhurryinginacartfromthedirectionofthetown。"Pethywymatter？"saidJohnJones。"Ymatter，ymatter！"saidthepostmaninatoneofexultation，"Sebastopolwedicymmeryd。Hurrah！"
　　"Whatdoeshesay？"saidmywifeanxiouslytome。
　　"Why，thatSebastopolistaken，"saidI。
　　"Thenyouhavebeenmistaken，"saidmywifesmiling，"foryoualwayssaidthattheplacewouldeithernotbetakenatallorwouldcostthealliestotakeitadealoftimeandanimmensequantityofbloodandtreasure，andhereitistakenatonce，forthealliesonlylandedtheotherday。Well，thankGod，youhavebeenmistaken！"
　　"ThankGod，indeed，"saidI，"alwayssupposingthatIhavebeenmistaken—butIhardlythinkfromwhatIhaveknownoftheRussiansthattheywouldlettheirtown—however，letushopethattheyhaveletitbetaken。Hurrah！"
　　Wereachedourdwelling。Mywifeanddaughterwentin。JohnJonesbetookhimselftohiscottage，andIwentintothetown，inwhichtherewasagreatexcitement；awildrunningtroopofboyswereshouting"Sebastopolwedicymmeryd。Hurrah！Hurrah！"OldMrJoneswasstandingbare—headedathisdoor。"Ah，"saidtheoldgentleman，"Iamgladtoseeyou。Letuscongratulateeachother，"
　　headded，shakingmebythehand。"Sebastopoltaken，andinsoshortatime。Howfortunate！"
　　"Fortunateindeed，"saidI，returninghisheartyshake；"Ionlyhopeitmaybetrue。"
　　"Oh，therecanbenodoubtofitsbeingtrue，"saidtheoldgentleman。"Theaccountsaremostpositive。Comein，andIwilltellyouallthecircumstances。"Ifollowedhimintohislittlebackparlour，wherewebothsatdown。
　　"Now，"saidtheoldchurchclerk，"Iwilltellyouallaboutit。
　　TheallieslandedabouttwentymilesfromSebastopolandproceededtomarchagainstit。WhennearlyhalfwaytheyfoundtheRussianspostedonahill。Theirpositionwasnaturallyverystrong，andtheyhadmadeitmoresobymeansofredoubtsandtrenches。
　　However，thealliesundismayed，attackedtheenemy，andafteradesperateresistance，drovethemoverthehill，andfollowingfastattheirheelsenteredthetownpell—mellwiththem，takingitandallthatremainedaliveoftheRussianarmy。Andwhatdoyouthink？TheWelshhighlydistinguishedthemselves。TheWelshfusileerswerethefirsttomountthehill。Theysufferedhorribly—indeedalmostthewholeregimentwascuttopieces；butwhatofthat？theyshowedthatthecourageoftheAncientBritonsstillsurvivesintheirdescendants。AndnowIintendtostandbeverage。
　　IassureyouIdo。Nowords！Iinsistuponit。Ihaveheardyousayyouarefondofgoodale，andIintendtofetchyouapintofsuchaleasIamsureyouneverdrankinyourlife。"Thereuponhehurriedoutoftheroom，andthroughtheshopintothestreet。
　　"Well，"saidI，whenIwasbymyself，"ifthisnewsdoesnotregularlysurpriseme！IcaneasilyconceivethattheRussianswouldbebeateninapitchedbattlebytheEnglishandFrench—butthattheyshouldhavebeensoquicklyfollowedupbytheallies，asnottobeabletoshuttheirgatesandmantheirwalls，istomeinconceivable。Why，theRussiansretreatlikethewind，andhaveathousandrusesatcommand，inordertoretardanenemy。SoatleastIthought，butitisplainthatIknownothingaboutthem，norindeedmuchofmyowncountrymen；IshouldneverhavethoughtthatEnglishsoldierscouldhavemarchedfastenoughtoovertakeRussians，moreespeciallywithsuchabeingtocommandthem，as—，whomI，andindeedalmosteveryoneelsehavealwaysconsideredadeadweightontheEnglishservice。Isuppose，however，thatboththeyandtheircommanderwerespurredonbytheactiveFrench。"
　　Presentlytheoldchurchclerkmadehisappearancewithaglassinonehand，andabrownjugofaleintheother。
　　"Here，"saidhe，fillingtheglass，"issomeoftherealLlangollenale。Igotitfromthelittleinn，theEagle，overtheway，whichwasalwayscelebratedforitsale。TheystaredatmewhenIwentinandaskedforapintofale，astheyknewthatfortwentyyearsIhavedrunknoliquorwhatever，owingtothestateofmystomach，whichwillnotallowmetodrinkanythingstrongerthanwaterandtea。Itoldthem，however，itwasforagentleman，afriendofmine，whomIwishedtotreatinhonourofthefallofSebastopol。"
　　Iwouldfainhaveexcusedmyself，buttheoldgentlemaninsistedonmydrinking。
　　"Well，"saidI，takingtheglass，"thankGodthatourgloomyforebodingsarenotlikelytoberealised。Oesybydi’rglodFrythoneg！MayBritain’sglorylastaslongastheworld！"
　　Then，lookingforamomentattheale，whichwasofadark—browncolour，Iputtheglasstomylipsanddrank。
　　"Ah！"saidtheoldchurchclerk，"Iseeyoulikeit，foryouhaveemptiedtheglassatadraught。"
　　"Itisgoodale，"saidI。
　　"Good，"saidtheoldgentlemanratherhastily，"good；didyouevertasteanysogoodinyourlife？"
　　"Why，astothat，"saidI，"Ihardlyknowwhattosay；Ihavedrunksomeverygoodaleinmyday。However，I’lltroubleyouforanotherglass。"
　　"Ohho，youwill，"saidtheoldgentleman；"that’senough；ifyoudidnotthinkitfirst—rate，youwouldnotaskformore。This，"
　　saidhe，ashefilledtheglassagain，"isgenuinemaltandhopliquor，brewedinawayonlyknown，theysay，tosomefewpeopleinthisplace。Youmust，however，takecarehowmuchyoutakeofit。
　　Onlyafewglasseswillmakeyoudisputewithyourfriends，andafewmorequarrelwiththem。StrangethingsaresaidofwhatLlangollenalemadepeopledoofyore；andIrememberthatwhenI
　　wasyoungandcoulddrinkale，twoorthreeglassesoftheLlangollenjuiceofthebarleycornwouldmakeme—however，thosetimesaregoneby。"
　　"HasLlangollenale，"saidI，aftertastingthesecondglass，"everbeensunginWelsh？istherenoenglynuponit？"
　　"No，"saidtheoldchurchclerk，"atanyrate，thatIamaware。"
　　"Well，"saidI，"Ican’tsingitspraisesinaWelshenglyn，butI
　　thinkIcancontrivetodosoinanEnglishquatrain，withthehelpofwhatyouhavetoldme。Whatdoyouthinkofthis？—
　　"Llangollen’sbrownaleiswithmaltandhoprife；
　　’Tisgood；butdon’tquaffitfromeveningtilldawn；
　　Fortoomuchofthatalewillinclineyoutostrife；
　　Toomuchofthatalehascausedknivestobedrawn。"
　　"That’snotsobad，"saidtheoldchurchclerk，"butIthinksomeofourbardscouldhaveproducedsomethingbetter—thatis，inWelsh；forexampleold—What’sthenameoftheoldbardwhowrotesomanyenglyniononale？"
　　"SionTudor，"saidI；"Oyes；buthewasagreatpoet。Ah，hehaswrittensomewonderfulenglyniononale；butyouwillpleasetobearinmindthatallhisenglynionareuponbadale，anditiseasiertoturntoridiculewhatisbad，thantodoanythinglikejusticetowhatisgood。"
　　O，greatwastherejoicingforafewdaysatLlangollenforthereportedtriumph；andtheshareoftheWelshinthattriumphreconciledforatimethedescendantsoftheAncientBritonstotheseedofthecoilingserpent。"WelshandSaxonstogetherwillconquertheworld！"shoutedbrats，astheystoodbarefootedinthekennel。Inalittletime，however，newsnotquitesocheeringarrived。Therehadbeenabattlefought，itistrue，inwhichtheRussianshadbeenbeaten，andthelittleWelshhadverymuchdistinguishedthemselves，butnoSebastopolhadbeentaken。TheRussianshadretreatedtotheirtown，which，tillthenalmostdefencelessonthelandside，theyhad，followingtheiroldmaximof"neverdespair，"renderedalmostimpregnableinafewdays，whilsttheallies，chieflyowingtothesupinenessoftheBritishcommander，wereloiteringonthefieldofbattle。Inaword，allhadhappenedwhichthewriter，fromhisknowledgeoftheRussiansandhisowncountrymen，hadconceivedlikelytohappenfromthebeginning。Thencamethenewsofthecommencementofaseeminglyinterminablesiege，andofdisastersanddisgracesonthepartoftheBritish；therewasnomoreshoutingatLlangolleninconnectionwiththeCrimeanexpedition。Butthesubjectisadisagreeableone，andthewriterwilldismissitafterafewbriefwords。
　　ItwasquiterightandconsistentwiththejusticeofGodthattheBritisharmsshouldbesubjectedtodisasterandignominyaboutthatperiod。Adeedofinfamousinjusticeandcrueltyhadbeenperpetrated，andtheperpetrators，insteadofbeingpunished，hadreceivedapplauseandpromotion；soiftheBritishexpeditiontoSebastopolwasadisastrousandignominiousone，whocanwonder？
　　WasitlikelythatthegroansofpoorParrywouldbeunheardfromthecornertowhichhehadretiredtohidehisheadby"theAncientofdays，"whositsabovethecloud，andfromthencesendsjudgments？
　　CHAPTERLVII
　　TheNewspaper—ANewWalk—PentreyDwr—OatmealandBarley—Meal—TheManonHorseback—HeavyNews。
　　"DEARme，"saidItomywife，asIsatbythefireoneSaturdaymorning，lookingatanewspaperwhichhadbeensenttousfromourowndistrict，"whatisthis？Why，thedeathofouroldfriendDr—。HediedlastTuesdayweekafterashortillness，forhepreachedinhischurchat—thepreviousSunday。"
　　"Poorman！"saidmywife。"HowsorryIamtohearofhisdeath！
　　However，hediedinthefulnessofyears，afteralongandexemplarylife。HewasanexcellentmanandgoodChristianshepherd。Iknewhimwell；youIthinkonlysawhimonce。"
　　"ButIshallneverforgethim，"saidI，"norhowanimatedhisfeaturesbecamewhenItalkedtohimaboutWales，forhe，youknow，wasaWelshman。IforgottoaskwhatpartofWaleshecamefrom。
　　IsupposeIshallneverknownow。"
　　Feelingindisposedeitherforwritingorreading，IdeterminedtotakeawalktoPentreyDwr，avillageinthenorth—westpartofthevalleywhichIhadnotyetvisited。IpurposedgoingbyapathundertheEglwysigcragswhichIhadheardledthither，andtoreturnbythemonastery。Isetout。Thedaywasdullandgloomy。
　　CrossingthecanalIpursuedmycoursebyromanticlanestillI
　　foundmyselfunderthecrags。Therockyridgehereturnsawaytothenorth，havingpreviouslyrunfromtheeasttothewest。
　　Afterproceedingnearlyamileamidstverybeautifulscenery，I
　　cametoafarm—yardwhereIsawseveralmenengagedinrepairingabuilding。Thisfarm—yardwasinaverysequesteredsituation；ahilloverhungitonthewest，half—wayupwhosesidestoodafarm—
　　housetowhichitprobablypertained。Onthenorth—westwasamostromantichillcoveredwithwoodtotheverytop。Awildvalleyled，Iknewnotwhither，tothenorthbetweencragsandthewood—
　　coveredhill。Goinguptoamanofrespectableappearance，whoseemedtobesuperintendingtheothers，IaskedhiminEnglishthewaytoPentreyDwr。HerepliedthatImustfollowthepathupthehilltowardsthehouse，behindwhichIshouldfindaroadwhichwouldleadmethroughthewoodtoPentreDwr。AshespokeverygoodEnglish，Iaskedhimwherehehadlearntit。
　　"ChieflyinSouthWales，"saidhe，"wheretheyspeaklessWelshthanhere。"
　　Igatheredfromhimthathelivedinthehouseonthehillandwasafarmer。Iaskedhimtowhatplacetheroadupthevalleytothenorthled。
　　"WegenerallygobythatroadtoWrexham，"hereplied；"itisashortbutawildroadthroughthehills。"
　　Afteralittlediscourseonthetimes，whichhetoldmewerenotquitesobadforfarmersastheyhadbeen，Ibadehimfarewell。
　　MountingthehillIpassedroundthehouse，asthefarmerhaddirectedme，andturnedtothewestalongapathonthesideofthemountain。Adeepvalleywasonmyleft，andonmyrightabovemeathickwood，principallyofoak。Aboutamilefurtheronthepathwindeddownadescent，atthebottomofwhichIsawabrookandanumberofcottagesbeyondit。
　　Ipassedoverthebrookbymeansofalongslablaidacross，andreachedthecottages。IwasnowasIsupposedinPentreyDwr，andapentreydwrmosttrulyitlooked，forthoseWelshwordssignifyinEnglishthevillageofthewater，andthebrookhereranthroughthevillage，ineveryroomofwhichitsprettymurmuringsoundmusthavebeenaudible。IlookedaboutmeinthehopeofseeingsomebodyofwhomIcouldaskaquestionortwo，butseeingnoone，IturnedtothesouthintendingtoregainLlangollenbythewayofthemonastery。ComingtoacottageIsawawoman，toallappearanceveryold，standingbythedoor，andaskedherinWelshwhereIwas。
　　"InPentreDwr，"saidshe。"Thishouse，andthoseyonder，"
　　pointingtothecottagespastwhichIhadcome，"arePentreyDwr。
　　Thereis，however，anotherPentreDwruptheglenyonder，"saidshe，pointingtowardsthenorth—"whichiscalledPentreDwruchaf（theupper）—thisisPentreDwrisaf（thelower）。"
　　"IsitcalledPentreDwr，"saidI，"becauseofthewaterofthebrook？"
　　"Likelyenough，"saidshe，"butIneverthoughtofthematterbefore。"
　　Shewasblear—eyed，andherskin，whichseemeddrawntightoverherforeheadandcheek—bones，wasofthecolourofparchment。Iaskedherhowoldshewas。
　　"Fifteenafterthreetwenties，"shereplied；meaningthatshewasseventy—five。
　　FromherappearanceIshouldalmosthaveguessedthatshehadbeenfifteenafterfourtwenties。I，however，didnottellherso，forIamalwayscautiousnottohurtthefeelingsofanybody，especiallyoftheaged。
　　ContinuingmywayIsoonovertookamandrivingfiveorsixverylargehogs。Oneofthesewhichwasmuzzledwasofatrulyimmensesize，andwalkedwithconsiderabledifficultyonaccountofitsfatness。Iwalkedforsometimebythesideofthenobleporker，admiringit。Atlengthamanrodeuponhorsebackfromthewaywehadcome；hesaidsomethingtothedriverofthehogs，whoinstantlyunmuzzledtheimmensecreature，whogavealoudgruntonfindinghissnoutandmouthfree。FromtheconversationwhichensuedbetweenthetwomenIfoundthatthedriverwastheservantandtheotherthemaster。
　　"Thosehogsaretoofattodrivealongtheroad，"saidIatlasttothelatter。
　　"WebroughttheminacartasfarasthePentreDwr，"saidthemanonhorseback，"butastheydidnotlikethejoltingwetookthemout。"
　　"Andwhereareyoutakingthemto？"said。I。
　　"ToLlangollen，"saidtheman，"forthefaironMonday。"
　　"Whatdoesthatbigfellowweigh？"saidI，pointingtothelargesthog。
　　"He’llweighabouteighteenscore，"saidtheman。
　　"Whatdoyoumeanbyeighteenscore？"saidI。
　　"Eighteenscoreofpounds，"saidtheman。
　　"Andhowmuchdoyouexpecttogetforhim？"
　　"Eightpounds；Ishan’ttakeless。"
　　"Andwhowillbuyhim？"saidI。
　　"SomegentfromWolverhamptonoraboutthere，"saidtheman；"therewillbeplentyofgentsfromWolverhamptonatthefair。"
　　"Andwhatdoyoufattenyourhogsupon？"saidI。
　　"Oatmeal，"saidtheman。
　　"Andwhynotonbarley—meal？"
　　"Oatmealisthebest，"saidtheman；"thegentsfromWolverhamptonpreferthemfattenedonoatmeal。"
　　"DothegentsofWolverhampton，"saidI，"eatthehogs？"
　　"Theydonot，"saidtheman；"theybuythemtosellagain；andtheylikehogsfedonoatmealbest，becausetheyarethefattest。"
　　"Buttheporkisnotthebest，"saidI；"allhog—fleshraisedonoatmealisbitterandwiry；becausedoyousee—"
　　"Iseeyouareinthetrade，"saidtheman，"andunderstandathingortwo。"
　　"Iunderstandathingortwo，"saidI，"butIamnotinthetrade。
　　Doyoucomefromfar？"
　　"FromLlandeglo，"saidtheman。
　　"Areyouahog—merchant？"saidI。
　　"Yes，"saidhe，"andahorse—dealer，andafarmer，thoughratherasmallone。"
　　"Isupposeasyouareahorse—dealer，"saidI，"youtravelmuchabout？"
　　"Yes，"saidtheman；"IhavetravelledagooddealaboutWalesandEngland。"
　　"HaveyoubeeninYnysFon？"saidI。
　　"IseeyouareaWelshman，"saidtheman。
　　"No，"saidI，"butIknowalittleWelsh。"
　　"YnysFon！"saidtheman。"Yes，IhavebeeninAngleseymoretimesthanIcantell。"
　　"DoyouknowHughPritchard，"saidI，"wholivesatPentraethCoch？"
　　"Iknowhimwell，"saidtheman，"andanhonestfellowheis。"
　　"AndMrBos？"saidI。
　　"WhatBos？"saidhe。"Doyoumeanalusty，red—facedmanintop—
　　bootsandgreycoat？"
　　"That’she，"saidI。
　　"He’sacleverone，"saidtheman。"Isupposebyyourknowingthesepeopleyouareadroverorahorse—dealer。Yes，"saidhe，turninghalf—roundinhissaddleandlookingatme，"youareahorse—dealer。Irememberyouwellnow，andoncesoldahorsetoyouatChelmsford。"
　　"Iamnohorse—dealer，"saidI，"nordidIeverbuyahorseatChelmsford。IseeyouhavebeenaboutEngland。HaveyoueverbeeninNorfolkorSuffolk？"
　　"No，"saidtheman，"butIknowsomethingofSuffolk。Ihaveanunclethere。"
　　"WhereaboutsinSuffolk？"saidI。
　　"Ataplacecalled—，"saidtheman。
　　"Inwhatlineofbusiness？"saidI。
　　"Innoneatall；heisaclergyman。"
　　"ShallItellyouhisname？"saidI。
　　"Itisnotlikelyyoushouldknowhisname，"saidtheman。
　　"Nevertheless，"saidI，"Iwilltellityou—hisnamewas—"
　　"Well，"saidtheman，"sureenoughthatishisname。"
　　"Itwashisname，"saidI，"butIamsorrytotellyouheisnomore。To—dayisSaturday。HediedlastTuesdayweekandwasprobablyburiedlastMonday。AnexcellentmanwasDr。H。O。A
　　credittohiscountryandtohisorder。"
　　Themanwassilentforsometimeandthensaidwithasoftervoiceandaverydifferentmannerfromthathehadusedbefore，"Ineversawhimbutonce，andthatwasmorethantwentyyearsago—butI
　　haveheardsaythathewasanexcellentman—Isee，sir，thatyouareaclergyman。"