"Whatlanguagedotheyspeak？"
　　"English，sir；theypridethemselvesonspeakinggoodEnglish，thatistotheWelsh。AmongstthemselvestheydiscourseintheirownPaddyGwyddel。"
　　"HavetheynoWelsh？"
　　"Onlyafewwords，sir；IneverheardoneofthemspeakingWelsh，saveayounggirl—shefellsickbytheroadsideasshewaswanderingbyherself—somepeopleatafarmhousetookherin，andtendedhertillshewaswell。Duringhersicknessshetookafancytotheirquietwayoflife，andwhenshewasrecoveredshebeggedtostaywiththemandservethem。Theyconsented；shebecameaverygoodservant，andhearingnothingbutWelshspoken，soonpickedupthetongue。"
　　"Doyouknowwhatbecameofher？"
　　"Ido，sir；herownpeoplefoundherout，andwishedtotakeherawaywiththem，butsherefusedtoletthem，forbythattimeshewasperfectlyreclaimed，hadbeentochapel，renouncedherheathencrefydd，andformedanacquaintancewithayoungMethodistwhohadagreatgiftofprayer，whomsheafterwardsmarried—sheandherhusbandliveatpresentnotfarfromMineira。"
　　"Ialmostwonderthatherownpeopledidnotkillher。"
　　"Theythreatenedtodoso，sir，andwoulddoubtlesshaveputtheirthreatintoexecution，hadtheynotbeenpreventedbytheManonHigh。"
　　Andheremyguidepointedwithhisfingerreverentlyupward。
　　"IsitalongtimesinceyouhaveseenanyoftheseGwyddeliaid？"
　　"Abouttwomonths，sir，andthenaterriblefrighttheycausedme。"
　　"Howwasthat？"
　　"Iwilltellyou，sir；IhadbeenacrosstheBerwyntocarryhomeapieceofweavingworktoapersonwhoemploysme。ItwasnightasIreturned，andwhenIwasabouthalfwaydownthehill，ataplacewhichiscalledAlltPaddy，becausetheGwyddelodareinthehabitoftakinguptheirquartersthere，Icameuponagangofthem，whohadcomethereandcampedandlightedtheirfire，whilstIwasontheothersideofthehill。Therewerenearlytwentyofthem，menandwomen，andamongsttherestwasamanstandingnakedinatubofwaterwithtwowomenstrokinghimdownwithclouts。Hewasalargefierce—lookingfellowandhisbody，onwhichtheflameofthefireglittered，wasnearlycoveredwithredhair。Ineversawsuchasight。AsIpassedtheyglaredatmeandtalkedviolentlyintheirPaddyGwyddel，butdidnotoffertomolestme。Ihasteneddownthehill，andrightgladIwaswhenIfoundmyselfsafeandsoundatmyhouseinLlangollen，withmymoneyinmypocket，forI
　　hadseveralshillingsthere，whichthemanacrossthehillhadpaidmefortheworkwhichIhaddone。"
　　CHAPTERXV
　　TheTurfTavern—Don’tUnderstand—TheBestWelsh—TheMaidsofMerion—OldandNew—Ruthyn—TheAshYggdrasill。
　　WEnowemergedfromtheroughandnarrowwaywhichwehadfollowedforsomemiles，upononemuchwider，andmorecommodious，whichmyguidetoldmewasthecoachroadfromWrexhamtoRuthyn，andgoingonalittlefartherwecametoanavenueoftreeswhichshadedtheroad。Itwaschieflycomposedofash，sycamoreandbirch，andlookeddelightfullycoolandshady。Iaskedmyguideifitbelongedtoanygentleman’shouse。Hetoldmethatitdidnot，buttoapublic—house，calledTafarnTywarch，whichstoodneartheend，alittlewayofftheroad。"WhyisitcalledTafarnTywarch？"
　　saidI，struckbythenamewhichsignifies"thetavernofturf。"
　　"Itwascalledso，sir，"saidJohn，"becauseitwasoriginallymerelyaturfhovel，thoughatpresentitconsistsofgoodbrickandmortar。"
　　"Canwebreakfastthere，"saidI，"forIfeelbothhungryandthirsty？"
　　"Ohyes，sir，"saidJohn，"Ihaveheardthereisgoodcheeseandcwrwthere。"
　　Weturnedofftothe"tafarn，"whichwasadecentpublic—houseofratheranantiquatedappearance。Weenteredasandedkitchen，andsatdownbyalargeoakentable。"Pleasetobringussomebread，cheeseandale，"saidIinWelshtoanelderlywoman，whowasmovingabout。
　　"Sar？"saidshe。
　　"Bringussomebread，cheeseandale，"IrepeatedinWelsh。
　　"Idonotunderstandyou，sar，"saidsheinEnglish。
　　"AreyouWelsh？"saidIinEnglish。
　　"Yes，IamWelsh！"
　　"AndcanyouspeakWelsh？"
　　"Ohyes，andthebest。"
　　"ThenwhydidyounotbringwhatIaskedfor？"
　　"BecauseIdidnotunderstandyou。"
　　"Tellher，"saidItoJohnJones，"tobringussomebread，cheeseandale。"
　　"Come，aunt，"saidJohn，"bringusbreadandcheeseandaquartofthebestale。"
　　Thewomanlookedasifshewasgoingtoreplyinthetongueinwhichheaddressedher，thenfaltered，andatlastsaidinEnglishthatshedidnotunderstand。
　　"Now，"saidI，"youarefairlycaught：thismanisaWelshman，andmoreoverunderstandsnolanguagebutWelsh。"
　　"Thenhowcanheunderstandyou？"saidshe。
　　"BecauseIspeakWelsh，"saidI。
　　"ThenyouareaWelshman？"saidshe。
　　"NoIamnot，"saidI，"IamEnglish。"
　　"SoIthought，"saidshe，"andonthataccountIcouldnotunderstandyou。"
　　"Youmeanthatyouwouldnot，"saidI。"Nowdoyouchoosetobringwhatyouarebidden？"
　　"Come，aunt，"saidJohn，"don’tbesillyandcenfigenus，butbringthebreakfast。"
　　Thewomanstoodstillforamomentortwo，andthenbitingherlipswentaway。
　　"Whatmadethewomanbehaveinthismanner？"saidItomycompanion。
　　"Oh，shewascenfigenus，sir，"hereplied；"shedidnotlikethatanEnglishgentlemanshouldunderstandWelsh；shewasenvious；youwillfindadozenortwolikeherinWales；butletushopenotmore。"
　　Presentlythewomanreturnedwiththebread，cheeseandale，whichsheplacedonthetable。
　　"Oh，"saidI，"youhavebroughtwhatwasbidden，thoughitwasnevermentionedtoyouinEnglish，whichshowsthatyourpretendingnottounderstandwasallasham。Whatmadeyoubehaveso？"
　　"WhyIthought，"saidthewoman，"thatnoEnglishmancouldspeakWelsh，thathistonguewastooshort。"
　　"Yourhavingthoughtso，"saidI，"shouldnothavemadeyoutellafalsehood，sayingthatyoudidnotunderstand，whenyouknewthatyouunderstoodverywell。Seewhatadisgracefulfigureyoucut。"
　　"Icutnodisgracedfigure，"saidthewoman："afterall，whatrighthavetheEnglishtocomeherespeakingWelsh，whichbelongstotheWelshalone，whoinfactaretheonlypeoplethatunderstandit。"
　　"AreyousurethatyouunderstandWelsh？"saidI。
　　"Ishouldthinkso，"saidthewoman，"forIcomefromtheValeofClwyd，wheretheyspeakthebestWelshintheworld，theWelshoftheBible。"
　　"WhatdotheycallasalmonintheValeofClwyd？"saidI。
　　"Whatdotheycallasalmon？"saidthewoman。"Yes，"saidI，"whentheyspeakWelsh。"
　　"Theycallit—theycallit—whyasalmon。"
　　"PrettyWelsh！"saidI。"IthoughtyoudidnotunderstandWelsh。"
　　"Well，whatdoyoucallit？"saidthewoman。
　　"Eawg，"saidI，"thatisthewordforasalmoningeneral—buttherearewordsalsotoshowthesex—whenyouspeakofamalesalmonyoushouldsaycemyw，whenofafemalehwyfell。"
　　"Ineverheardthewordsbefore，"saidthewoman，"nordoIbelievethemtobeWelsh。"
　　"Yousayso，"saidI，"becauseyoudonotunderstandWelsh。"
　　"InotunderstandWelsh！"saidshe。"I’llsoonshowyouthatIdo。
　　Come，youhaveaskedmethewordforsalmoninWelsh，Iwillnowaskyouthewordforsalmon—trout。Nowtellmethat，andIwillsayyouknowsomethingofthematter。"
　　"Atinkerofmycountrycantellyouthat，"saidI。"Thewordforsalmon—troutisgleisiad。"
　　Thecountenanceofthewomanfell。
　　"Iseeyouknowsomethingaboutthematter，"saidshe；"thereareveryfewhereabouts，thoughsoneartotheValeofClwyd，whoknowthewordforsalmon—troutinWelsh，Ishouldn’thaveknownthewordmyself，butforthesongwhichsays：
　　Glanyw’rgleisiadynyllyn。"
　　"Andwhowrotethatsong？"saidI。
　　"Idon’tknow，"saidthewoman。
　　"ButIdo，"saidI；"oneLewisMorriswroteit。’
　　"Oh，"saidshe，"IhaveheardallaboutHuwMorris。"
　　"IwasnottalkingofHuwMorris，"saidI，"butLewisMorris，wholivedlongafterHuwMorris。HewasanativeofAnglesea，butresidedforsometimeinMerionethshire，andwhilsttherecomposedasongabouttheMorwynionbroMeirionyddorthelassesofCountyMerionofagreatmanystanzas，inoneofwhichthegleisiadismentioned。HereitisinEnglish：
　　"’Fullfairthegleisiadintheflood，Whichsparkles’neaththesummer’ssun，AndfairthethrushingreenabodeSpreadinghiswingsinsportivefun，Butfairerlookiftruthbespoke，ThemaidsofCountyMerion。’"
　　Thewomanwasabouttoreply，butIinterruptedher。
　　"There，"saidI，"prayleaveustoourbreakfast，andthenexttimeyoufeelinclinedtotalknonsenseaboutnoEnglishman’sunderstandingWelsh，orknowinganythingofWelshmatters，rememberthatitwasanEnglishmanwhotoldyoutheWelshwordforsalmon，andlikewisethenameoftheWelshmanwhowrotethesonginwhichthegleisiadismentioned。"
　　Thealewasverygoodandsowerethebreadandcheese。ThealeindeedwassogoodthatIorderedasecondjug。Observingalargeantiqueportraitoverthemantel—pieceIgotuptoexamineit。Itwasthatofagentlemaninalongwig，andunderneathitwaspaintedinredletters"SirWatkinWynn：1742。"ItwasdoubtlesstheportraitoftheSirWatkinwho，in1745wascommittedtothetowerundersuspicionofbeingsuspectedofholdingJacobiteopinions，andfavouringthePretender。Theportraitwasaverypoordaub，butIlookedatitlongandattentivelyasamemorialofWalesatacriticalandlongpasttime。
　　Whenwehaddispatchedthesecondjugofale，andIhadpaidthereckoning，wedepartedandsooncametowherestoodaturnpikehouseatajunctionoftworoads，toeachofwhichwasagate。
　　"Now，sir，"saidJohnJones，"thewaystraightforwardisthefforddnewydd，andtheoneonourrighthandisthehenffordd。
　　Whichshallwefollow，thenewortheold？"
　　"ThereisaproverbintheGerniweg，"saidI，"whichwasthelanguageofmyforefathers，saying，’ne’erleavetheoldwayforthenew，’wewillthereforegobythehenffordd。"
　　"Verygood，sir，"saidmyguide，"thatisthepathIalwaysgo，foritistheshortest。"Soweturnedtotherightandfollowedtheoldroad。Perhaps，however，itwouldhavebeenwellhadwegonebythenew，forthehenfforddwasaverydullanduninterestingroad，whereasthefforddnewydd，asIlongsubsequentlyfound，isoneofthegrandestpassesinWales。Afterwehadwalkedashortdistancemyguidesaid，"Now，sir，ifyouwillturnalittlewaytothelefthandIwillshowyouahouse，builtintheoldstyle，suchahouse，sir，asIdaresaytheoriginalturftavernwas。"Thenleadingmealittlewayfromtheroadheshowedme，underahollowbank，asmallcottagecoveredwithflags。
　　"Thatisahouse，sir，builtynyrhendullintheoldfashion，ofearth，flagsandwattlesandinonenight。Itwasthecustomofoldwhenahousewastobebuilt，forthepeopletoassemble，andtobuilditinonenightofcommonmaterials，closeathand。Thecustomisnotquitedead。Iwasatthebuildingofthismyself，andamerrybuildingitwas。Thecwrwdapassedquicklyaboutamongthebuilders，Iassureyou。"Wereturnedtotheroad，andwhenwehadascendedahill，mycompaniontoldmethatifIlookedtotheleftIshouldseetheValeofClwyd。
　　Ilookedandperceivedanextensivevalleypleasantlydottedwithtreesandfarm—houses，andboundedonthewestbyarangeofhills。
　　"Itisafinevalley，sir，"saidmyguide，"fourmileswideandtwentylong，andcontainstherichestlandinallWales。Cheesemadeinthatvalley，sir，fetchesapennyapoundmorethancheesemadeinanyothervalley。"
　　"Andwhoownsit？"saidI。
　　"Variousarethepeoplewhoownit，sir，butSirWatkinownsthegreaterpart。"
　　Wewenton，passedbyavillagecalledCraigVychan，wherewesawanumberofwomenwashingatafountain，andbyagentledescentsoonreachedtheValeofClwyd。
　　Afterwalkingaboutamilewelefttheroadandproceededbyafootpathacrosssomemeadows。Themeadowsweregreenanddelightfulandwereintersectedbyabeautifulstream。Treesinabundanceweregrowingabout，someofwhichwereoaks。Wepassedbyalittlewhitechapelwithasmallgraveyardbeforeit，whichmyguidetoldmebelongedtotheBaptists，andshortlyafterwardsreachedRuthyn。
　　WewenttoaninncalledtheCrossedFoxes，wherewerefreshedourselveswithale。Wethensalliedforthtolookabout，afterI
　　hadorderedaducktobegotreadyfordinner，atthreeo’clock。
　　RuthynstandsonahillabovetheClwyd，whichinthesummerisamerebrook，butinthewinteraconsiderablestream，beingthenfedwiththewaterytributeofahundredhills。Aboutthreemilestothenorthisarangeofloftymountains，dividingtheshireofDenbighfromthatofFlint，amongstwhich，almostparallelwiththetown，andliftingitsheadhighabovetherest，isthemightyMoelVamagh，themotherheap，whichIhadseenfromChester。Ruthynisadulltown，butitpossessedplentyofinteresttome，forasI
　　strolledwithmyguideaboutthestreetsIrememberedthatIwastreadingthegroundwhichthewildbandsofGlendowerhadtrod，andwherethegreatstrugglecommenced，whichforfourteenyearsconvulsedWales，andforsometimeshookEnglandtoitscentre。
　　AfterIhadsatisfiedmyselfwithwanderingaboutthetownweproceededtothecastle。
　　Theoriginalcastlesufferedterriblyinthecivilwars；itwasheldforwretchedCharles，andwasnearlydemolishedbythecannonofCromwell，whichwereplantedonahillabouthalfamiledistant。Thepresentcastleispartlymodernandpartlyancient。
　　ItbelongstoafamilyofthenameofW—whoresideinthemodernpart，andwhohavethecharacterofbeingkind，hospitableandintellectualpeople。Weonlyvisitedtheancientpart，overwhichwewereshownbyawoman，whohearingusspeakingWelsh，spokeWelshherselfduringthewholetimeshewasshowingusabout。Sheshowedusdarkpassages，agloomyapartmentinwhichWelshkingsandgreatpeoplehadbeenoccasionallyconfined，thatstrangememorialofthegoodoldtimes，adrowningpit，andalargeprisonroom，inthemiddleofwhichstoodasingular—lookingcolumn，scrawledwithoddcharacters，whichhadofyorebeenusedforawhipping—post，anothermemorialofthegoodoldbaronialtimes，sodeartoromancereadersandmindsofsensibility。Amongstotherthingswhichourconductorshoweduswasanimmenseonenorash；itstoodinoneofthecourtsandmeasured，asshesaid，pedwaryhaneroladdyneigwmpas，orfouryardsandahalfingirth。AsI
　　gazedonthemightytreeIthoughtoftheAshYggdrasillmentionedintheVoluspa，orprophecyofVola，thatvenerablepoemwhichcontainssomuchrelatingtothemythologyoftheancientNorse。
　　Wereturnedtotheinnanddined。Theduckwascapital，andI
　　askedJohnJonesifhehadevertastedabetter。"Never，sir，"
　　saidhe，"fortotellyouthetruth，Inevertastedaduckbefore。"
　　"Rathersingular，"saidI。"What，thatIshouldnothavetastedduck？Oh，sir，thesingularityis，thatIshouldnowbetastingduck。DuckinWales，sir，isnotfareforpoorweavers。ThisisthefirstduckIevertasted，andthoughInevertasteanother，asIprobablynevershall，Imayconsidermyselfafortunateweaver，forIcannowsayIhavetastedduckonceinmylife。FewweaversinWalesareeverabletosayasmuch。"
　　CHAPTERXVI
　　BaptistTomb—Stone—TheToll—Bar—Rebecca—TheGuitar。
　　THEsunwasfastdecliningasweleftRuthyn。Weretracedourstepsacrossthefields。WhenwecametotheBaptistChapelIgotoverthewallofthelittleyardtolookatthegrave—stones。
　　Therewereonlythree。TheinscriptionsuponthemwereallinWelsh。ThefollowingstanzawasonthestoneofJane，thedaughterofElizabethWilliams，whodiedonthesecondofMay，1843：
　　"Ermyn’di’roerllydanneddDrosdymherhiriorwedd，Cwydi’rlano’rgwelybriddAchyfrydfyddeihagwedd。"
　　whichis"ThoughthouartgonetodwellingcoldTolieinmouldformanyayear，Thoushalt，atlength，fromearthybed，Upliftthyheadtoblissfulsphere。"
　　AswewentalongIstoppedtogazeatasingular—lookinghillformingpartofthemountainrangeontheeast。IaskedJohnJoneswhatitsnamewas，buthedidnotknow。Aswewerestandingtalkingaboutit，aladycameupfromthedirectioninwhichourcourselay。JohnJones，touchinghishattoher，said：
　　"Madam，thisgwrboneddigwishestoknowthenameofthatmoel，perhapsyoucantellhim。"
　　"ItsnameisMoelAgrik，"saidthelady，addressingmeinEnglish。
　　"DoesthatmeanAgricola’shill？"saidI。
　　"Itdoes，"saidshe，"andthereisatraditionthattheRomanGeneralAgricola，whenheinvadedtheseparts，pitchedhiscamponthatmoel。ThehillisspokenofbyPennant。"
　　"Thankyou，madam，"saidI；"perhapsyoucantellmethenameofthedelightfulgroundsinwhichwestand，supposingtheyhaveaname？"
　　"TheyarecalledOaklands，"saidthelady。
　　"Averypropername，"saidI，"forthereisplentyofoaksgrowingabout。ButwhyaretheycalledbyaSaxonname，forOaklandsisSaxon？"
　　"Because，"saidthelady，"whenthegroundswerefirstplantedwithtreestheybelongedtoanEnglishfamily。"
　　"Thankyou，"saidI，and，takingoffmyhat，Idepartedwithmyguide。Iaskedhimhername，buthecouldnottellme。Beforeshewasoutofsight，however，wemetalabourerofwhomJohnJonesenquiredhername。
　　"HernameisW—s，"saidtheman，"andagoodladysheis。"
　　"IssheWelsh？"saidI。
　　"PureWelsh，master，"saidtheman。"PurerWelshfleshandbloodneednotbe。"
　　Nothingfartherworthrelatingoccurredtillwereachedthetoll—
　　barattheheadofthehenffordd，bywhichtimethesunwasalmostgonedown。Wefoundthemasterofthegate，hiswifeandsonseatedonabenchbeforethedoor。Thewomanhadalargebookonherlap，inwhichshewasreadingbythelastlightofthedepartingorb。IgavethegrouptheseleoftheeveninginEnglish，whichtheyallreturned，thewomanlookingupfromherbook。
　　"IsthatvolumetheBible？"saidI。
　　"Itis，sir，"saidthewoman。
　　"MayIlookatit？"saidI。
　　"Certainly，"saidthewoman，andplacedthebookinmyhand。ItwasamagnificentWelshBible，butwithoutthetitle—page。
　　"Thatbookmustbeagreatcomforttoyou，"saidItoher。
　　"Verygreat，"saidshe。"Iknownotwhatweshoulddowithoutitinthelongwinterevenings。"
　　"Ofwhatfaithareyou？"saidI。
　　"WeareMethodists，"shereplied。
　　"Thenyouareofthesamefaithasmyfriendhere，"saidI。
　　"Yes，yes，"saidshe，"weareawareofthat。WeallknowhonestJohnJones。"
　　AfterwehadleftthegateIaskedJohnJoneswhetherhehadeverheardofRebeccaofthetoll—gates。
　　"Oh，yes，"saidhe；"Ihaveheardofthatchieftainess。"
　　"Andwhowasshe？"saidI。
　　"Icannotsay，sir；Ineversawher，noranyonewhohadseenher。
　　SomesaythattherewereahundredRebeccas，andallofthemmendressedinwomen’sclothes，whowentaboutatnight，attheheadofbandstobreakthegates。Ah，sir，somethingofthekindwasalmostnecessaryatthattime。Iamafriendofpeace，sir，nohead—breaker，house—breaker，norgate—breaker，butIcanhardlyblamewhatwasdoneatthattime，underthenameofRebecca。YouhavenoideahowthepoorWelshwereoppressedbythosegates，aye，andtherichtoo。Thelittlepeopleandfarmerscouldnotcarrytheirproducetomarketowingtotheexactionsatthegates，whichdevouredalltheprofitandsometimesmore。Sothatthemarketswerenothalfsupplied，andpeoplewithmoneycouldfrequentlynotgetwhattheywanted。Complaintsweremadetogovernment，whichnotbeingattendedto，Rebeccaandherbyddinionmadetheirappearanceatnight，andbrokethegatestopieceswithsledge—
　　hammers，andeverybodysaiditwasgallantwork，everybodysavethekeepersofthegatesandtheproprietors。Notonlythepoorbuttherich，saidso。Aye，andIhaveheardthatmanyafineyounggentlemanhadahandinthework，andwentaboutatnightattheheadofabanddressedasRebecca。Well，sir，thosebreakingswereactsofviolence，Idon’tdeny，buttheydidgood，forthesystemisaltered；suchimpositionsarenolongerpractisedatgatesaswerebeforethetimeofRebecca。"
　　"Wereanypeopleevertakenupandpunishedforthosenocturnalbreakings？"saidI。
　　"No，sir；andIhaveheardsaythatnobody’sbeingtakenupwasaproofthattherichapprovedoftheworkandhadahandinit。"
　　Nighthadcomeonbythetimewereachedthefootofthehugehillswehadcrossedinthemorning。Wetoileduptheascent，andaftercrossingthelevelgroundonthetop，plungeddownthebwlchbetweenwalkingandrunning，occasionallystumbling，forwewerenearlyincompletedarkness，andthebwlchwassteepandstony。Wemorethanoncepassedpeoplewhogaveusthen’sda，thehissingnightsalutationoftheWelsh。AtlengthIsawtheAbbeyloomingamidstthedarkness，andJohnJonessaidthat，wewerejustabovethefountain。Wedescended，andputtingmyheaddownIdrankgreedilyofthedwrsantaidd，myguidefollowingmyexample。Wethenproceededonourway，andinabouthalf—an—hourreachedLlangollen。ItookJohnJoneshomewithme。Wehadacheerfulcupoftea。Henriettaplayedontheguitar，andsangaSpanishsong，tothegreatdelightofJohnJones，whoataboutteno’clockdepartedcontentedandhappytohisowndwelling。
　　CHAPTERXVII
　　JohnJonesandhisBundle—AGoodLady—TheIrishman’sDingle—
　　AbGwilymandtheMist—TheKitchen—TheTwoIndividuals—TheHorse—Dealer—Icanmanagehim—TheMistAgain。
　　THEfollowingdaywasgloomy。IntheeveningJohnJonesmadehisappearancewithabundleunderhisarm，andanumbrellainhishand。
　　"Sir，"saidhe，"Iamgoingacrossthemountainwithitpieceofweavingwork，forthemanontheotherside，whoemploysme。
　　Perhapsyouwouldliketogowithme，asyouarefondofwalking。"
　　"Isuppose，"saidI，"youwishtohavemycompanyforfearofmeetingGwyddeliansonthehill。"
　　Johnsmiled。
　　"Well，sir，"saidhe，"ifIdomeetthemIwouldsoonerbewithcompanythanwithout。ButIdareventurebymyself，trustingintheManonHigh，andperhapsIdowrongtoaskyoutogo，asyoumustbetiredwithyourwalkofyesterday。"
　　"Hardlymorethanyourself，"saidI。"Come；Ishallbegladtogo。
　　WhatIsaidabouttheGwyddelianswasonlyinjest。"
　　AswewereabouttodepartJohnsaid：
　　"Itdoesnotrainatpresent，sir，butIthinkitwill。Youhadbettertakeanumbrella。"
　　Ididso，andawaywewent。Wepassedoverthebridge，andturningtotherightwentbythebackofthetownthroughafield。AswepassedbythePlasNewyddJohnJonessaid：
　　"Noonelivestherenow，sir；alldarkanddreary；verydifferentfromthestateofthingswhentheladieslivedthere—allgaythenandcheerful。Iremembertheladies，sir，particularlythelast，wholivedbyherselfafterhercompaniondied。Shewasagoodlady，andverykindtothepoor；whentheycametohergatetheywereneversentawaywithoutsomethingtocheerthem。Shewasagrandladytoo—keptgrandcompany，andusedtobedrawnaboutinacoachbyfourhorses。Butshetooisgone，andthehouseiscoldandempty；nofireinit，sir；nofurniture。Therewasanauctionafterherdeath；andagrandauctionitwasandlastedfourdays。
　　Oh，whatathrongofpeopletherewas，someofwhomcamefromagreatdistancetobuythecuriousthings，ofwhichtherewereplenty。"