首页 >出版文学> Wild Wales>第45章

第45章

  Thentherewasahymnandwewentaway。
  Themoonwasshiningonhighandcastitssilverylightonthetower,thechurch,somefinetreeswhichsurroundedit,andthecongregationgoinghome;afewofthebetterdressedweretalkingtoeachotherinEnglish,butwithanaccentandpronunciationwhichrenderedthediscoursealmostunintelligibletomyears。
  Ifoundmywaybacktomyinnandwenttobed,aftermusingawhileontheconcludingsceneofwhichIhadbeenwitnessinthechurch。
  CHAPTERXCVII
  Llandovery—GriffithapNicholas—PowerfulEnemies—LastWords—
  LlandoveryChurch—ReesPritchard—TheWiserCreature—God’sbetterthanAll—TheOldVicarage。
  THEmorningoftheninthwasverybeautiful,withaslighttendencytofrost。Ibreakfasted,andhavingnointentionofproceedingonmyjourneythatday,IwenttotakealeisurelyviewofLlandoveryandtheneighbourhood。
  Llandoveryisasmallbutbeautifultown,situatedamidstfertilemeadows。Itisawater—girdledspot,whenceitsnameLlandoveryorLlanymdyfri,whichsignifiesthechurchsurroundedbywater。OnitswestistheTowey,andonitseasttheriverBranorBrein,whichdescendingfromcertainloftymountainstothenorth—eastrunsintotheToweyalittlewaybelowthetown。ThemoststrikingobjectwhichLlandoverycanshowisitscastle,fromwhichtheinn,whichstandsneartoit,hasitsname。Thiscastle,majesticthoughinruins,standsonagreenmound,theeasternsideofwhichiswashedbytheBran。Littlewithrespecttoitshistoryisknown。Onething,however,iscertain,namelythatitwasoneofthemanystrongholds,whichatonetimebelongedtoGriffithapNicholas,LordofDinevor,oneofthemostremarkablemenwhichSouthWaleshaseverproduced,ofwhomabriefaccountherewillnotbeoutofplace。
  GriffithapNicholasflourishedtowardstheconcludingpartofthereignofHenrytheSixth。HewasapowerfulchieftainofSouthWalesandpossessedimmenseestatesinthecountiesofCarmarthenandCardigan。KingHenrytheSixth,fullyawareofhisimportanceinhisowncountry,bestoweduponhimthecommissionofthepeace,anhonouratthattimeseldomvouchsafedtoaWelshman,andthecaptaincyofKilgarran,astrongroyalcastlesituatedonthesouthernbankoftheTeiviafewmilesaboveCardigan。Hehadmanycastlesofhisown,inwhichheoccasionallyresided,buthischiefresidencewasDinevor,halfwaybetweenLlandoveryandCarmarthen,onceapalaceofthekingsofSouthWales,fromwhomGriffithtracedlinealdescent。Hewasamanveryproudatheart,butwithtoomuchwisdomtoexhibitmanymarksofpride,speakinggenerallywiththeutmostgentlenessandsuavity,andthoughverybraveaddictedtodashingintodangerforthemeresakeofdisplayinghisvalour。HewasagreatmasteroftheEnglishtongue,andwellacquaintedwithwhatlearningitcontained,butneverthelesswaspassionatelyattachedtothelanguageandliteratureofWales,aproofofwhichhegavebyholdingacongressofbardsandliteratiatCarmarthen,atwhichvariouspiecesofeloquenceandpoetrywererecited,andcertainalterationsintroducedintothecanonsofWelshversification。ThoughholdingofficesoftrustandemolumentundertheSaxon,heinthedepthsofhissouldetestedtherace,andwouldhaverejoicedtoseeitutterlyextirpatedfromBritain。
  ThishatredofhisagainsttheEnglishwasthecauseofhisdoingthatwhichcannotbejustifiedonanyprincipleofhonour,givingshelterandencouragementtoWelshthieves,whowereinthehabitofplunderingandravagingtheEnglishborders。Thoughattheheadofanumerousandwarlikeclan,whichwasstronglyattachedtohimonvariousaccounts,Griffithdidnotexactlyoccupyabedofroses。Hehadamongsthisneighboursfourpowerfulenemieswhoenviedhimhislargepossessions,withwhomhehadcontinualdisputesaboutpropertyandprivilege。Powerfulenemiestheymaywellbecalled,astheywerenolesspersonagesthanHumphreyDukeofBuckingham,RichardDukeofYork,whobeganthecontestforthecrownwithKingHenrytheSixth,JasperEarlofPembroke,sonofOwenTudor,andhalf—brotheroftheking,andtheEarlofWarwick。
  Theseaccusedhimatcourtofbeingacomforterandharbourerofthieves,theresultbeingthathewasdeprivednotonlyofthecommissionofthepeace,butofthecaptaincyofKilgarran,whichtheEarlofPembroke,throughhisinfluencewithhishalf—brother,procuredforhimself。TheymoreoverinducedWilliamBorleyandThomasCorbet,twojusticesofthepeaceforthecountyofHereford,tograntawarrantforhisapprehensiononthegroundofhisbeinginleaguewiththethievesoftheMarches。GriffithinthebosomofhismightyclanbadedefiancetoSaxonwarrants,thoughoncehavingventuredtoHerefordhenearlyfellintothepoweroftheministersofjustice,onlyescapingbytheinterventionofSirJohnScudamore,withwhomhewasconnectedbymarriage。Shortlyafterwards,thecivilwarbreakingout,theDukeofYorkapologisedtoGriffith,andbesoughthisassistanceagainstthekingwhichthechieftainreadilyenoughpromised,notoutofaffectionforYork,butfromthehatredwhichhefelt,onaccountoftheKilgarranaffair,fortheEarlofPembroke,whohadsided,verynaturally,withhishalf—brother,theking,andcommandedhisforcesinthewest。GriffithfellatthegreatbattleofMortimer’scross,whichwaswonforYorkbyadesperatechargemaderightatPembroke’sbannerbyGriffithandhisWelshmen,whentherestoftheYorkistswerewavering。Hislastwordswere:
  "Welcome,Death!sincehonourandvictorymakeforus。"
  ThepowerandwealthofGriffithapNicholas,andalsopartsofhischaracter,havebeenwelldescribedbyoneofhisbards,GwilymabIeuanHen,inanodetothefollowingeffect:—
  "GriffithapNicholas,wholiketheeForwealthandpowerandmajesty!
  Whichmostabound,Icannotsay,OneithersideofToweygay,Fromhencetowhereitmeetsthebrine,Treesorstatelytowersofthine?
  Thechairofjudgmentthoudidstgain,Butnottodealinjudgmentsvain—
  TotheeuponthyjudgmentchairFromnearandfardocrowdsrepair;
  ButthoughbetwixttheweakandstrongNoquestionsrosefromrightorwrongThestrongtheweaktotheewouldhie;
  Thestrongtodotheeinjury,Andtotheweakthouwinewouldstdeal,Andwouldsttripupthemightyheel。
  Alionuntotheloftythou,Alambuntotheweakandlow。
  MuchthouresemblestNuddofyore,Surpassingallwhowentbefore;
  Likehimthou’rtfam’dforbravery,Fornoblebirthandhighdegree。
  Hail,captainofKilgarran’shold!
  LieutenantofCarmarthenold!
  Hail,chieftain,Cambria’schoicestboast!
  Hail,justice,attheSaxon’scost!
  Sevencastleshighconfessthysway,Sevenpalacesthyhandsobey。
  Againstmychief,withenvyfired,Threedukesandjudgestwoconspired,Butthouadauntlessfrontdidstshow,Andtoretreattheywerenotslow。
  O,withwhatgratitudeisheardFrommouthofthinethewhisperedword,ThedeepestpoolsinriversfoundInsummerareofsoftestsound;
  Thesageconcealethwhatheknows,Adealoftalknowisdomshows;
  Thesageissilentasthegrave,Whilstofhislipsthefoolisslave;
  Thysmiledotheveryjoyimpart,Offaithafountainisthyheart;
  Thyhandisstrong,thineeyeiskeen,Thyheado’ereveryheadisseen。"
  ThechurchofLlandoveryisalargeedificestandingatthesouthernextremityofthetowninthevicinityoftheTowey。Theoutsideexhibitsmanyappearancesofantiquity,buttheinteriorhasbeensadlymodernized。Itcontainsnoremarkabletombs;Iwaspleased,however,toobserveupononeortwoofthemonumentsthenameofRyce,theappellationofthegreatclantowhichGriffithapNicholasbelonged;ofoldtheregalraceofSouthWales。Oninquiringoftheclerk,anintelligentyoungmanwhoshowedmeoverthesacrededifice,astothestateoftheChurchofEnglandatLlandovery,hegavemeaverycheeringaccount,adding,however,thatbeforethearrivalofthepresentincumbentitwasverylowindeed。"Whatistheclergyman’sname?"saidI;"Iheardhimpreachlastnight。"
  "Iknowyoudid,sir,"saidtheclerk,bowing,"forIsawyouattheserviceatLlanfair—hisnameisHughes。"
  "AnyrelationoftheclergymanatTregaron?"saidI。
  "Ownbrother,sir。"
  "HeatTregaronbearsaveryhighcharacter,"saidI。
  "Andverydeservedly,sir,"saidtheclerk,"forheisanexcellentman;heis,however,notmoreworthyofhishighcharacterthanhisbrotherhereisoftheonewhichhebears,whichisequallyhigh,andwhichtheverydissentershavenothingtosayagainst。"
  "Haveyoueverheard,"saidI,"ofamanofthenameofReesPritchard,whopreachedwithinthesewallssometwohundredyearsago?"
  "ReesPritchard,sir!OfcourseIhave—whohasn’theardoftheoldvicar—theWelshman’scandle?Ah,hewasamanindeed!WehavesomegoodmenintheChurch,verygood;buttheoldvicar—
  whereshallwefindhisequal?"
  "Isheburiedinthischurch?"saidI。
  "No,sir,hewasburiedoutabroadinthechurchyard,nearthewallbytheTowey。"
  "Canyoushowmehistomb?"saidI。"No,sir,norcananyone;histombwassweptawaymorethanahundredyearsagobyadreadfulinundationoftheriver,whichsweptawaynotonlytombsbutdeadbodiesoutofgraves。Butthere’shishouseinthemarket—place,theoldvicarage,whichyoushouldgoandsee。IwouldgoandshowityoumyselfbutIhavechurchmattersjustnowtoattendto—theplaceofchurchclerkatLlandovery,longasinecure,isanythingbutthatunderthepresentclergyman,who,thoughnotaReesPritchard,isaveryzealousChristian,andnotunworthytopreachinthepulpitoftheoldvicar。"
  LeavingthechurchIwenttoseetheoldvicarage,butbeforesayinganythingrespectingit,afewwordsabouttheoldvicar。
  ReesPritchardwasbornatLlandovery,abouttheyear1575,ofrespectableparents。Hereceivedtherudimentsofaclassicaleducationattheschooloftheplace,andattheageofeighteenwassenttoOxford,beingintendedfortheclericalprofession。AtOxfordhedidnotdistinguishhimselfinanadvantageousmanner,beingmoreremarkablefordissipationandriotthanapplicationinthepursuitoflearning。ReturningtoWales,hewasadmittedintotheministry,andafterthelapseofafewyearswasappointedvicarofLlandovery。Hisconductforaconsiderabletimewasnotonlyunbecomingaclergyman,butahumanbeinginanysphere。
  Drunkennesswasveryprevalentintheageinwhichhelived,butReesPritchardwassoinordinatelyaddictedtothatvicethattheveryworstofhisparishionerswerescandalized,andsaid:"Badaswemaybewearenothalfsobadastheparson。"
  Hewasinthehabitofspendingthegreaterpartofhistimeinthepublic—house,fromwhichhewasgenerallytrundledhomeinawheel—
  barrowinastateofutterinsensibility。God,however,whoisawareofwhateverymaniscapableof,hadreservedReesPritchardforgreatandnoblethings,andbroughtabouthisconversioninaveryremarkablemanner。
  ThepeopleofthetavernwhichReesPritchardfrequentedhadalargehe—goat,whichwentinandoutandmingledwiththeguests。
  OnedayReesinthemidstofhisorgiescalledthegoattohimandoffereditsomeale;thecreature,farfromrefusingit,drankgreedily,andsoonbecomingintoxicated,felldownuponthefloor,whereitlayquivering,tothegreatdelightofReesPritchard,whomadeitsdrunkennessasubjectofjesttohisbooncompanions,who,however,saidnothing,beingstruckwithhorroratsuchconductinapersonwhowasplacedamongthemtobeapatternandexample。
  Beforenight,however,Pritchardbecamehimselfintoxicated,andwastrundledtothevicarageintheusualmanner。Duringthewholeofthenextdayhewasveryillandkeptathome,butonthefollowingoneheagainrepairedtothepublic—house,satdownandcalledforhispipeandtankard。Thegoatwasnowperfectlyrecovered,andwasstandingnigh。NosoonerwasthetankardbroughtthanReestakingholdofitheldittothegoat’smouth。
  Thecreature,however,turnedawayitsheadindisgust,andhurriedoutoftheroom。ThiscircumstanceproducedaninstantaneouseffectuponReesPritchard。"MyGod!"saidhetohimself,"isthispoordumbcreaturewiserthanI?Yes,surely;ithasbeendrunk,buthavingonceexperiencedthewretchedconsequencesofdrunkenness,itrefusestobedrunkagain。Howdifferentisitsconducttomine!I,afterhavingexperiencedahundredtimesthefilthinessandmiseryofdrunkenness,havestillpersistedindebasingmyselfbelowtheconditionofabeast。Oh,ifIpersistinthisconductwhathaveItoexpectbutwretchednessandcontemptinthisworldandeternalperditioninthenext?But,thankGod,itisnotyettoolatetoamend;Iamstillalive—Iwillbecomeanewman—thegoathastaughtmealesson。"Smashinghispipehelefthistankarduntastedonthetable,wenthome,andbecameanalteredman。
  DifferentasanangeloflightisfromthefiendofthepitwasReesPritchardfromthatmomentfromwhathehadbeeninformerdays。ForupwardsofthirtyyearshepreachedtheGospelasithadneverbeenpreachedbeforeintheWelshtonguesincethetimeofSaintPaul,supposingthebeautifullegendtobetruewhichtellsusthatSaintPaulinhiswanderingsfoundhiswaytoBritainandpreachedtotheinhabitantstheinestimableefficacyofChrist’sbloodsheddinginthefairestWelsh,havinglikealltheotherapostlesthemiraculousgiftoftongues。Thegoodvicardidmore。
  Intheshortintervalsofrelaxationwhichheallowedhimselffromthelabouroftheministryduringthoseyearshecomposedanumberofpoeticalpieces,whichafterhisdeathweregatheredtogetherintoavolumeandpublished,underthetitleof"CanwyllyCymry;
  or,theCandleoftheWelshman。"Thiswork,whichhasgonethroughalmostcountlesseditions,iswrittenintwocommoneasymeasures,andthelanguageissoplainandsimplethatitisintelligibletothehomeliesthindwhospeakstheWelshlanguage。Allofthepiecesareofastrictlydevotionalcharacter,withtheexceptionofone,namely,awelcometoCharles,PrinceofWales,onhisreturnfromSpain,towhichcountryhehadgonetoseetheSpanishladyewhomatonetimehesoughtasbride。Someofthepiecesarehighlycurious,astheybearuponeventsatpresentforgotten;forexample,thesongupontheyear1629,whenthecornwasblightedthroughouttheland,and"AWarningtotheCumrytorepentwhenthePlagueofBlotchesandBoilswasprevalentinLondon。"Someofthepiecesarewrittenwithastonishingvigour,forexample,"TheSongoftheHusbandman,"and"God’sBetterthanAll,"ofwhichlastpiecethefollowingisaliteraltranslation:—
  "GOD’SBETTERTHANALL—
  "God’sbetterthanheavenoraughttherein,Thantheearthoraughtwetherecanwin,Betterthantheworldoritswealthtome—
  God’sbetterthanallthatisorcanbe。
  Betterthanfather,thanmother,thannurse,Betterthanriches,oftprovingacurse,BetterthanMarthaorMaryeven—
  BetterbyfaristheGodofheaven。
  IfGodforthyportionthouhastta’enThere’sChristtosupporttheeineverypain,Theworldtorespecttheethouwiltgain,Tofeartheethefiendandallhistrain。
  OfthebestofportionsthouchoicedidstmakeWhenthouthehighGodtothyselfdidsttake,AportionwhichnonefromthygraspcanrendWhilstthesunandthemoonontheircourseshallwendWhenthesungrowsdarkandthemoonturnsred,Whenthestarsshalldropandmillionsdread,Whentheearthshallvanishwithitspompsinfire,Thyportionstillshallremainentire。
  Thenletnotthyheart,thoughdistressed,complain!
  Aholdonthyportionfirmmaintain。
  Thoudidstchoosethebestportion,againIsay—
  Resignitnottillthydyingday。"
  TheoldvicarageofLlandoveryisaverylargemansionofdarkredbrick,frontingtheprincipalstreetormarket—place,andwithitsbacktoagreenmeadowboundedbytheriverBran。Itisinaverydilapidatedcondition,andisinhabitedatpresentbyvariouspoorfamilies。Theprincipalroom,whichissaidtohavebeentheoldvicar’slibrary,andtheplacewherehecomposedhisundyingCandle,isinmanyrespectsaremarkableapartment。Itisoflargedimensions。Theroofiscuriouslyinlaidwithstuccoormortar,andistraversedfromeasttowestbyanimmenseblackbeam。Thefire—place,whichisatthesouth,isverylargeandseeminglyofhighantiquity。Thewindows,whicharetwoinnumberandlookwestwardintothestreet,haveaquaintandsingularappearance。
  OfallthehousesinLlandoverytheoldvicarageisbyfarthemostworthyofattention,irrespectiveofthewonderfulmonumentofGod’sprovidenceandgracewhoonceinhabitedit。
  ThereverenceinwhichthememoryofReesPritchardisstillheldinLlandoverythefollowinganecdotewillshow。AsIwasstandingintheprincipalstreetstaringintentlyattheantiquevicarage,arespectable—lookingfarmercameupandwasabouttopass,butobservinghowIwasemployedhestopped,andlookednowatmeandnowattheantiquehouse。Presentlyhesaid"Afineoldplace,isitnot,sir?butdoyouknowwholivedthere?"
  WishingtoknowwhatthemanwouldsayprovidedhethoughtIwasignorantastotheancientinmate,Iturnedafaceofinquiryuponhim;whereuponheadvancedtowardsmetwoorthreesteps,andplacinghisfacesoclosetominethathisnosenearlytouchedmycheek,hesaidinakindofpiercingwhisper—
  "TheVicar。"
  Thendrawinghisfacebackhelookedmefullintheeyesasiftoobservetheeffectofhisintelligence,gavemetwonodsasiftosay,"Hedid,indeed,"anddeparted。
  THEVicarofLlandoveryhadthenbeendeadnearlytwohundredyears。Trulythemaninwhompietyandgeniusareblendedisimmortaluponearth。
  CHAPTERXCVIII
  DeparturefromLlandovery—ABitterMethodist—NorthandSouth—
  TheCaravan—CaptainBosvile—DeputyRanger—AScrimmage—TheHeavenlyGwynfa—DangerousPosition。
  ONthetenthIdepartedfromLlandovery,whichIhavenohesitationinsayingisaboutthepleasantestlittletowninwhichIhavehaltedinthecourseofmywanderings。IintendedtosleepatGutterVawr,aplacesometwentymilesdistant,justwithinGlamorganshire,toreachwhichitwouldbenecessarytopassoverpartofarangeofwildhills,generallycalledtheBlackMountains。Istartedataboutteno’clock;themorningwaslowering,andtherewereoccasionalshowersofrainandhail。I
  passedbyReesPritchard’schurch,holdingmyhatinmyhandasI
  didso,notoutofrespectforthebuilding,butfromreverenceforthememoryofthesaintedmanwhoofoldfromitspulpitcalledsinnerstorepentance,andwhoseremainsslumberinthechurchyardunlesswashedawaybysomefranticburstoftheneighbouringTowey。
  CrossingabridgeovertheBranjustbeforeitentersthegreaterstream,Iproceededalongaroadrunningnearlysouthandhavingarangeoffinehillsontheeast。Presentlyviolentgustsofwindcameon,whichtorethesearleavesbythousandsfromthetrees,ofwhichtherewereplentybytheroadsides。Afteralittletime,however,thiselementalhurly—burlypassedaway,arainbowmadeitsappearance,andthedaybecamecomparativelyfine。Turningtothesouth—eastunderahillcoveredwithoaks,IleftthevaleoftheToweybehindme,andsooncaughtaglimpseofsomeveryloftyhillswhichIsupposedtobetheBlackMountains。Itwasamereglimpse,forscarcelyhadIdescriedthemwhenmistsettleddownandtotallyobscuredthemfrommyview。
  InaboutanhourIreachedLlangadog,alargevillage。ThenamesignifiesthechurchofGadog。GadogwasaBritishsaintofthefifthcentury,whoafterlabouringamongsthisowncountrymenfortheirspiritualgoodformanyyears,crossedtheseatoBrittany,wherehedied。ScarcelyhadIenteredLlangadogwhenagreatshowerofraincamedown。Seeinganancient—lookinghostelryIatoncemadeforit。InalargeandcomfortablekitchenIfoundamiddle—agedwomanseatedbyahugedealtablenearablazingfire,withacoupleoflargebooksopenbeforeher。SittingdownonachairItoldherinEnglishtobringmeapintofale。Shedidso,andagainsatdowntoherbooks,whichoninquiryIfoundtobeaWelshBibleandConcordance。Wesoongotintodiscourseaboutreligion,butdidnotexactlyagree,forshewasabitterMethodist,asbitterasherbeer,onlyhalfofwhichIcouldgetdown。
  LeavingLlangadogIpushedforward。Thedaywasnowtolerablyfine。IntwoorthreehoursIcametoaglen,thesidesofwhichwerebeautifullywooded。Onmyleftwasariver,whichcameroaringdownfromarangeofloftymountainsrightbeforemetothesouth—east。Theriver,asIwastoldbyalad,wastheSawddeorSouthey,theloftyrangetheBlackMountains。Passedaprettyvillageonmyrightstandingsomethingintheshapeofasemicircle,andinabouthalf—an—hourcametoabridgeoverariverwhichIsupposedtobetheSawddewhichIhadalreadyseen,butwhichIsubsequentlylearnedwasanaltogetherdifferentstream。
  Itwasrunningfromthesouth,awild,fierceflood,amidstrocksandstones,thewavesallroaringandfoaming。
  AftersometimeIreachedanotherbridgenearthefootofaveryloftyascent。Onmylefttotheeastuponabankwasasmallhouse,ononesideofwhichwasawheelturnedroundbyaflushofwaterrunninginalittleartificialcanal;closebyitweretwosmallcascades,thewatersofwhich,andalsothoseofthecanal,passedunderthebridgeinthedirectionofthewest。Seeingadecent—lookingmanengagedinsawingapieceofwoodbytheroadside,IaskedhiminWelshwhetherthehousewiththewheelwasaflourmill。
  "Nage,"saidhe,"itisapandy,fullingmill。"
  "Canyoutellmethenameofariver,"saidI,"whichIhaveleftaboutamilebehindme。IsittheSawdde?’
  "Nage,"saidhe,"itistheLleidach。"
  Thenlookingatmewithgreatcuriosity,heaskedifIcamefromthenorthcountry。
  "Yes,"saidI,"Icertainlycomefromthere。"
  "Iamgladtohearit,"saidhe,"forIhavelongwishedtoseeamanfromthenorthcountry。"
  "Didyouneverseeonebefore?"saidI。
  "Neverinmylife,"hereplied;"menfromthenorthcountryseldomshowthemselvesintheseparts。"
  "Well,"saidI;"IamnotashamedtosaythatIcomefromthenorth。"
  "Ain’tyou?Well,Idon’tknowthatyouhaveanyparticularreasontobeashamed,foritisratheryourmisfortunethanyourfault;
  buttheideaofanyonecomingfromthenorth—ho,ho!"
  "Perhapsinthenorth,"saidI,"theylaughatamanfromthesouth。"
  "Laughatamanfromthesouth!No,no;theycan’tdothat。"
  "Whynot?"saidI;"whyshouldn’tthenorthlaughatthesouthaswellasthesouthatthenorth?"
  "Whyshouldn’tit?why,youtalklikeafool。Howcouldthenorthlaughatthesouthaslongasthesouthremainsthesouthandthenorththenorth?Laughatthesouth!youtalklikeafool,David,andifyougooninthatwayIshallbeangrywithyou。However,I’llexcuseyou;youarefromthenorth,andwhatcanoneexpectfromthenorthbutnonsense?Nowtellme,doyouofthenortheatanddrinklikeotherpeople?Whatdoyouliveupon?"
  "Why,asformyself,"saidI;"IgenerallyliveonthebestIcanget。"
  "Let’shearwhatyoueat;baconandeggs?
  "Ohyes,IeatbaconandeggswhenIcangetnothingbetter。"
  "Andwhatdoyoudrink?Canyoudrinkale?"
  "Ohyes,"saidI;"Iamveryfondofalewhenit’sgood。Perhapsyouwillstandapint?"
  "Hm,"saidthemanlookingsomewhatblank;"thereisnoaleinthePandyandthereisnopublic—housenearathand,otherwise—Whereareyougoingto—night?"
  "ToGutterVawr。"
  "Well,then,youhadbetternotloiter;GutterVawrisalongwayoffoverthemountain。Itwillbedark,Iamafraid,longbeforeyougettoGutterVawr。Goodevening,David!Iamgladtohaveseenyou,forIhavelongwishedtoseeamanfromthenorthcountry。Goodevening!youwillfindplentyofgoodaleatGutterVawr。"
  Iwentonmyway。Theroadledinasouth—easterndirectiongraduallyupwardtoveryloftyregions。Afterwalkingabouthalf—
  an—hourIsawakindofwoodenhouseonwheelsdrawnbytwohorsescomingdownthehilltowardsme。Ashortblack—lookingfellowinbrown—topboots,corduroybreeches,jockeycoatandjockeycapsatonthebox,holdingthereinsinonehandandalongwhipintheother。Besidehimwasaswarthywomaninawildflauntingdress。