第19章
加入书架 A- A+
点击下载App,搜索"Wild Wales",免费读到尾

  \"Tut,tut,\"saidthemaningrey。

  \"Ispeakthetruthandcarefornoone,\"saidheofthetatteredhat。\"Isaythegreatestprydydd。IfanyonewishestogainsaymelethimshowhisfaceandMynDiawl—\"

  Thelandlordbroughttheale,placeditonthetable,andthenstoodasifwaitingforsomething。

  \"Isupposeyouarewaitingtobepaid,\"saidI;\"whatisyourdemand?\"

  \"Sixpenceforthisjug,andsixpencefortheother,\"saidthelandlord。

  Itookoutashillingandsaid:\"ItisbutrightthatIshouldpayhalfofthereckoning,andasthewholeaffairismerelyashillingmatter,Ishouldfeelobligedinbeingpermittedtopaythewhole,so,landlord,taketheshillingandrememberyouarepaid。\"Ithendeliveredtheshillingtothelandlord,buthadnosoonerdonesothanthemaningrey,startingupinviolentagitation,wrestedthemoneyfromtheother,andflungitdownonthetablebeforemesaying:—

  \"No,no,thatwillneverdo。Iinvitedyouinheretodrink,andnowyouwouldpayfortheliquorwhichIordered。YouEnglisharefreewithyourmoney,butyouaresometimesfreewithitattheexpenseofpeople’sfeelings。IamaWelshman,andIknowEnglishmenconsiderallWelshmenhogs。Butwearenothogs,mindyou!forwehavelittlefeelingswhichhogshavenot。Moreover,I

  wouldhaveyouknowthatwehavemoney,thoughperhapsnotsomuchastheSaxon。\"Thenputtinghishandintohispocket,hepulledoutashilling,andgivingittothelandlord,saidinWelsh:\"Nowthouartpaid,andmaystgothywaystillthouartagaincalledfor。Idonotknowwhythoudidststayafterthouhadstputdowntheale。Thoudidstknowenoughofmetoknowthatthoudidstrunnoriskofnotbeingpaid。\"

  \"But,\"saidI,afterthelandlordhaddeparted,\"Imustinsistonbeingmyshare。DidyounothearmesaythatIwouldgiveaquartofaletoseeapoet?\"

  \"Apoet’sface,\"saidthemaningrey,\"shouldbecommontoall,evenlikethatofthesun。Heisnotruepoet,whowouldkeephisfacefromtheworld。\"

  \"But,\"saidI,\"thesunfrequentlyhideshisheadfromtheworld,behindacloud。\"

  \"Notso,\"saidthemaningrey。\"Thesundoesnothidehisface,itisthecloudthathidesit。Thesunisalwaysgladenoughtobeseen,andsoisthepoet。Ifbothareoccasionallyhid,trustmeitisnofaultoftheirs。Bearthatinmind;andnowpraytakeupyourmoney。\"

  \"Themanisagentleman,\"thoughtItomyself,\"whetherapoetornot;butIreallybelievehimtobeapoet;werehenothecouldhardlytalkinthemannerIhavejustheardhim。\"

  Themaningreynowfilledmyglass,hisown,andthatofhiscompanion。Thelatteremptiedhisinaminute,notforgettingfirsttosay\"thebestprydyddinalltheworld!\"themaningreywasalsonotslowtoemptyhisown。Thejugnowpassedrapidlybetweenmytwofriends,forthepoetseemeddeterminedtohavehisfullshareofthebeverage。Iallowedthealeinmyglasstoremainuntasted,andbegantotalkaboutthebards,andtoquotefromtheirworks。Isoonfoundthatthemaningreyknewquiteasmuchoftheoldbardsandtheirworksasmyself。Inoneinstanceheconvictedmeofamistake。

  Ihadquotedthoseremarkablelinesinwhichanoldbard,doubtlessseeingtheMenaiBridgebymeansofsecondsight,says:—\"IwillpasstothelandofMonanotwithstandingthewatersoftheMenai,withoutwaitingfortheebb\"—andwasfeelingnotalittleproudofmyerudition,whenthemaningreyafterlookingatmeforamomentfixedly,askedmethenameofthebardwhocomposedthem。

  \"SionTudor,\"Ireplied。

  \"Thereyouarewrong,\"saidthemaningrey;\"hisnamewasnotSionTudorbutRobertVychan,inEnglish,LittleBob。SionTudorwroteanenglynontheSkerrieswhirlpoolintheMenai;butitwasLittleBobwhowrotethestanzainwhichthefuturebridgeovertheMenaiishintedat。\"

  \"Youareright,\"saidI,\"youareright。Well,IamgladthatallsongandlearningarenotdeadinYnisFon。\"

  \"Dead,\"saidthemaningrey,whosefeaturesbegantoberatherflushed,\"theyareneitherdeadnoreverwillbe。ThereareplentyofpoetsinAnglesey—why,Icanmentiontwelve,andamongstthemandnottheleast—pooh,whatwasIgoingtosay?twelvethereare,genuineAngleseypoets,bornthere,andlivingthereforthelovetheybeartheirnativeland。WhenIsaytheyallliveinAnglesey,perhapsIamnotquiteaccurate,foroneofthedozendoesnotexactlyliveinAnglesey,butjustoverthebridge。Heisanelderlyman,buthisawen,Iassureyou,isasyoungandvigorousasever。\"

  \"Ishouldn’tbeatallsurprised,\"saidI,\"ifhewasacertainancientgentleman,fromwhomIobtainedinformationyesterday,withrespecttothebirth—placeofGronwyOwen。\"

  \"Verylikely,\"saidthemaningrey;\"well,ifyouhaveseenhimconsideryourselffortunate,forheisagenuinebard,andagenuinesonofAnglesey,notwithstandinghelivesacrossthewater。\"

  \"IfheisthepersonIalludeto,\"saidI,\"Iamdoublyfortunate,forIhaveseentwobardsofAnglesey。\"

  \"Sir,\"saidthemaningrey,\"Iconsidermyselfquiteasfortunate,inhavingmetsuchaSaxonasyourself,asitispossibleforyoutodo,inhavingseentwobardsofYnisFon。\"

  \"Isupposeyoufollowsomepursuitbesidesbardism?\"saidI;\"I

  supposeyoufarm?\"

  \"Idonotfarm,\"saidthemaningrey,\"Ikeepaninn。\"

  \"Keepaninn?\"saidI。

  \"Yes,\"saidthemaningrey。\"The—ArmsatL—。\"

  \"Sure,\"saidI,\"inn—keepingandbardismarenotverycognatepursuits?\"

  \"Youarewrong,\"saidthemaningrey;\"Ibelievetheawen,orinspiration,isquiteasmuchathomeinthebarasinthebarn,perhapsmore。ItisthatbeliefwhichmakesmetolerablysatisfiedwithmypositionandpreventsmefromaskingSirRichardtogivemeafarminsteadofaninn。\"

  \"Isuppose,\"saidI,\"thatSirRichardisyourlandlord?\"

  \"Heis,\"saidthemaningrey,\"andarightnoblelandlordtoo。\"

  \"Isuppose,\"saidI,’thatheisrightproudofhistenant?\"

  \"Heis,\"saidthemaningrey,\"andIamproudofmylandlord,andwillheredrinkhishealth。IhaveoftensaidthatifIwerenotwhatIam,IshouldwishtobeSirRichard。\"

  \"Youconsideryourselfhissuperior?\"saidI。

  \"Ofcourse,\"saidthemaningrey—\"abaronetisabaronet;butabard,isabardyouknow—IneverforgetwhatIam,andtherespectduetomysublimecalling。AboutamonthagoIwasseatedinanupperapartmentinafitofrapture。Therewasapeninmyhand,andpaperbeforemeonthetable,andlikewiseajugofgoodale,forIalwaysfindthattheawenismostprodigalofherfavourswhenajugofgoodaleisbeforeme。Allofasuddenmywifecamerunningup,andtoldmethatSirRichardwasbelow,andwantedtospeaktome。’Tellhimtowalkup,’saidI。’Areyoumad?’saidmywife。’Don’tyouknowwhoSirRichardis?’’Ido,’

  saidI,’abaronetisabaronet,butabardisabard。Tellhimtowalkup。’Well,mywifewentandtoldSirRichardthatIwaswriting,andcouldnotcomedown,andthatshehopedhewouldnotobjecttowalkup。’Certainlynot;certainlynot,’saidSirRichard。’Ishallbeonlytoohappytoascendtoageniusonhishill。Youmaybeproudofsuchahusband,MrsW。’AndhereitwillbeaswelltotellyouthatmynameisW。—J。W。of—。SirRichardthencameup,andIreceivedhimwithgravityandpoliteness。Ididnotriseofcourse,forIneverforgetmyselfamoment,butItoldhimtositdown,andadded,thatafterIhadfinishedthepennillIwasengagedupon,Iwouldspeaktohim。

  Well,SirRichardsmiledandsatdown,andbeggedmenottohurrymyself,forthathecouldwait。SoIfinishedthepennill,deliberately,mindyou,forIdidnotforgetwhoIwas,andthenturningtoSirRichardentereduponbusinesswithhim。\"

  \"IsupposeSirRichardisaverygood—temperedman?\"saidI。

  \"Idon’tknow,\"saidthemaningrey。\"IhaveseenSirRichardinadevilofapassion,butneverwithme—no,no!TrustSirRichardfornotridingthehighhorsewithme—abaronetisabaronet,butabardisabard;andthatSirRichardknows。\"

  \"Thegreatestprydydd,\"saidthemanofthetatteredhat,emptyingthelastcontentsofthejugintohisglass,\"thegreatestprydyddthat—\"

  \"Well,\"saidI,\"youappeartoenjoyverygreatconsideration,andyetyouweretalkingjustnowofbeingill—used。\"

  \"SoIhavebeen,\"saidthemaningrey,\"Ihavebeenkeptoutoftheeisteddfoddau—andthen—whatdoyouthink?Thatfellow,theeditoroftheTIMES—\"

  \"Oh,\"saidI,\"ifyouhaveanythingtodowiththeeditoroftheTIMESyoumay,ofcourse,expectnothingbutshabbytreatment,butwhatbusinesscouldyouhavewithhim?\"

  \"WhyIsenthimsomepennillionforinsertion,andhedidnotinsertthem。\"

  \"WeretheyinWelshorEnglish?\"

  \"InWelsh,ofcourse。\"

  \"Well,thenthemanhadsomeexcusefordisregardingthem—becauseyouknowtheTIMESiswritteninEnglish。\"

  \"Oh,youmeantheLondonTIMES,\"saidthemaningrey。\"Pooh!I

  didnotalludetothattrumperyjournal,buttheLiverpoolTIMES,theAmserau。Isentsomepennilliontotheeditorforinsertionandhedidnotinsertthem。PethaclwircenfigenynSaesneg?\"

  \"WecallcenfigeninEnglishenvy,\"saidI;\"butasItoldyoubefore,envywillnotalwaysprevail。\"

  \"YoucannotimaginehowpleasedIamwithyourcompany,\"saidthemaningrey。\"Landlord,landlord!\"

  \"Thegreatestprydydd,\"saidthemanofthetatteredhat,\"thegreatestprydydd。\"

  \"Praydon’torderanymoreonmyaccount,\"saidI,\"asyouseemyglassisstillfull。IamabouttostartforCaerGybi。Pray,whereareyouboundfor?\"

  \"ForBangor,\"saidthemaningrey。\"Iamgoingtothemarket。\"

  \"ThenIwouldadviseyoutolosenotime,\"saidI,\"oryouwillinfalliblybetoolate;itmustnowbeoneo’clock。\"

  \"Thereisnomarketto—day,\"saidthemaningrey,\"themarketisto—morrow,whichisSaturday。Iliketotakethingsleisurely,onwhichaccount,whenIgotomarket,Igenerallysetoutthedaybefore,inorderthatImayenjoymyselfupontheroad。IfeelmyselfsohappyherethatIshallnotstirtilltheevening。Nowpraystaywithmeandmyfriendtillthen。\"

  \"Icannot,\"saidI,\"ifIstaylongerhereIshallneverreachCaerGybito—night。ButallowmetoaskwhetheryourbusinessatL—

  willnotsufferbyyourspendingsomuchtimeontheroadtomarket?\"

  \"MywifetakescareofthebusinesswhilstIamaway,\"saidthemaningrey,\"soitwon’tsuffermuch。Indeeditisshewhochieflyconductsthebusinessoftheinn。Ispendagooddealoftimefromhome,forbesidesbeingabardandinn—keeper,ImusttellyouIamahorse—dealerandajobber,andifIgotoBangoritisinthehopeofpurchasingahorseorpigworththemoney。\"

  \"Andisyourfriendgoingtomarkettoo?\"saidI。

  \"Myfriendgoeswithmetoassistmeandbearmecompany。IfIbuyapighewillhelpmetodriveithome;ifahorse,hewillgetupuponitsbackbehindme。Imightperhapsdowithouthim,butI

  enjoyhiscompanyhighly。Heissometimesratherindiscreet,butI

  doassureyouheisexceedinglyclever。\"

  \"Thegreatestprydydd,\"saidthemanofthebulgedshoe,\"thegreatestprydyddintheworld。\"

  \"Oh,Ihavenodoubtofhiscleverness,\"saidI,\"fromwhatIhaveobservedofhim。NowbeforeIgoallowmetopayforyournextjugofale。\"

  \"Iwilldonosuchthing,\"saidthemaningrey。\"Nofarthingdoyoupayhereformeormyfriendeither。ButIwilltellyouwhatyoumaydo。Iam,asIhavetoldyou,aninn—keeperaswellasabard。BythetimeyougettoL—youwillbehotandhungryandinneedofrefreshment,andifyouthinkpropertopatronisemyhouse,the—Arms,bytakingyourchopandpintthere,youwillobligeme。

  Landlord,somemoreale。\"

  \"Thegreatestprydydd,\"saidheofthebulgedshoe,\"thegreatestprydydd—\"

  \"Iwillmostcertainlypatroniseyourhouse,\"saidItothemaningrey,andshakinghimheartilybythehandIdeparted。

  CHAPTERXXXVIII

  InnatL—TheHandmaid—TheDecanter—ReligiousGentleman—

  TrulyDistressing—Sententiousness—WaytoPayBills。

  IPROCEEDEDonmywayinhighspiritsindeed,havingnowseennotonlythetomboftheTudors,butoneofthosesoberpoetsforwhichAngleseyhasalwaysbeensofamous。Thecountrywaspretty,withhereandthereahill,aharvest—field,aclumpoftreesoragrove。

  IsoonreachedL—,asmallbutneattown。\"Whereisthe—Arms?\"

  saidItoamanwhomImet。

  \"Yonder,sir,yonder,\"saidhe,pointingtoamagnificentstructureontheleft。

  Iwentinandfoundmyselfinaspacioushall。Agood—lookingyoungwomaninawhitedresswithaprofusionofpinkribbonsconfrontedmewithacurtsey。\"Apintandachop!\"Iexclaimed,withaflourishofmyhandandatthetopofmyvoice。Thedamselgaveakindofstart,andthen,withsomethinglikeatossofthehead,ledthewayintoaverylargeroom,ontheleft,inwhichweremanytables,coveredwithsnowy—whitecloths,onwhichwereplates,knivesandforks,thelatterseeminglyofsilver,tumblers,andwine—glasses。

  \"Ithinkyouaskedforapintandachop,sir?\"saidthedamsel,motioningmetositdownatoneofthetables。

  \"Idid,\"saidI,asIsatdown,\"letthembebroughtwithallconvenientspeed,forIaminsomethingofahurry。\"

  \"Verywell,sir,\"saidthedamsel,andthenwithanotherkindoftossofthehead,shewentaway,notforgettingtoturnhalfround,totakeafurtiveglanceatme,beforeshewentoutofthedoor。

  \"Well,\"saidI,asIlookedatthetables,withtheirsnowy—whitecloths,tumblers,wine—glassesandwhatnot,andatthewallsoftheroomglitteringwithmirrors,\"surelyapoetneverkeptsomagnificentaninnbefore;theremustbesomethinginthisfellowbesidestheawen,orhishousewouldneverexhibitsuchmarksofprosperityandgoodtaste—theremustbesomethinginthisfellow;

  thoughhepretendstobeawilderraticsonofParnassus,hemusthaveaneyetothemainchance,ageniusforturningthepenny,orratherthesovereign,fortheaccommodationhereisnopennyaccommodation,asIshallprobablyfind。Perhaps,however,likemyself,hehasanexceedinglycleverwifewho,whilstheismakingverses,orrunningaboutthecountryswiggingalewithpeopleinbulgedshoes,orbuyingpigsorglanderedhorses,looksaftermattersathome,drivesaswingingtrade,andkeepsnotonlyherself,buthimrespectable—buteveninthateventhemusthaveagooddealofcommon—senseinhim,evenlikemyself,whoalwaysallowsmywifetobuyandsell,carrymoneytothebank,drawcheques,inspectandpaytradesmen’sbills,andtransactallmyrealbusiness,whilstImyselfporeoveroldbooks,walkaboutshires,discoursingwithgypsies,underhedgerows,orwithsoberbards—inhedgeale—houses。\"Icontinuedmusinginthismanneruntilthehandmaidmadeherappearancewithatray,onwhichwerecoversandadecanter,whichsheplacedbeforeme。\"Whatisthat?\"

  saidI,pointingtoadecanter。

  \"Onlyapintofsherry,sir,\"saidsheofthewhitedressandribbons。

  \"Dearme,\"saidI,\"Iorderednosherry,Iwantedsomeale—apintofale。\"

  \"Youcalledforapint,sir,\"saidthehandmaid,\"butyoumentionednoale,andInaturallysupposedthatagentlemanofyourappearance\"—heresheglancedatmydustycoat—\"andspeakinginthetoneyoudid,wouldnotcondescendtodrinkalewithhischop;

  however,asitseemsIhavebeenmistaken,Icantakeawaythesherryandbringyoutheale。\"

  \"Well,well,\"saidI,\"youcanletthesherryremain;Idonotlikesherry,andamveryfondofale,butyoucanletthewineremain;

  uponthewholeIamgladyoubroughtit—indeedImerelycametodoagoodturntothemasterofthehouse。\"

  \"Thankyou,sir,\"saidthehandmaid。

  \"Areyouhisdaughter?\"saidI。

  \"Ohno,sir,\"saidthehandmaidreverently;\"onlyhiswaiter。\"

  \"Youmaybeproudtowaitonhim,\"saidI。

  \"Iam,sir,\"saidthehandmaid,castingdownhereyes。

  \"Isupposeheismuchrespectedintheneighbourhood?\"saidI。

  \"Verymuchso,sir,\"saidthedamsel,\"especiallyamidsttheconnection。\"

  \"Theconnection,\"saidI。\"Ah,Isee,hehasextensiveconsanguinity,mostWelshhave。But,\"Icontinued,\"thereissuchathingasenvyintheworld,andthereareagreatmanymaliciouspeopleintheworld,whospeakagainsthim。\"

  \"Agreatmany,sir,butwetakewhattheysayfromwhenceitcomes。\"

  \"Youdoquiteright,\"saidI。\"Hasyourmasterwrittenanypoetrylately?\"

  \"Sir!\"saidthedamselstaringatme。

  \"Anypoetry,\"saidI,\"anypennillion?\"

  \"No,sir,\"saidthedamsel;\"mymasterisarespectableman,andwouldscorntodoanythingofthekind。\"

  \"Why,\"saidI,\"isnotyourmasterabardaswellasaninnkeeper?\"

  \"Mymaster,sir,isaninnkeeper,\"saidthedamsel;\"butasfortheother,Idon’tknowwhatyoumean。\"

  \"Abard,\"saidI,\"isaprydydd,apersonwhomakesverses—

  pennillion;doesnotyourmastermakethem?\"

  \"Mymastermakethem?No,sir;mymasterisareligiousgentleman,andwouldscorntomakesuchprofanestuff。\"

  \"Well,\"saidI,\"hetoldmehedidwithinthelasttwohours。I

  methimatDyffrinGaint,alongwithanotherman,andhetookmeintothepublic—house,wherewehadadealofdiscourse。\"

  \"YoumetmymasteratDyffrynGaint?\"saidthedamsel。

  \"Yes,\"saidI,\"andhetreatedmewithale,toldmethathewasapoet,andthathewasgoingtoBangortobuyahorseorapig。\"

  \"Idon’tseehowthatcouldbe,sir,\"saidthedamsel;\"mymasterisatpresentinthehouse,ratherunwell,andhasnotbeenoutforthelastthreedays—theremustbesomemistake。\"

  \"Mistake,\"saidI。\"Isn’tthisthe—Arms?\"

  \"Yes,sir,itis。\"

  \"Andisn’tyourmaster’snameW—?\"

  \"No,sir,mymaster’snameisH—,andamorerespectableman—\"

  \"Well,\"saidIinterruptingher—\"allIcansayisthatImetamaninDyffrynGaint,whotreatedmewithale,toldmethathisnamewasW—,thathewasaprydyddandkeptthe—ArmsatL—。\"

  \"Well,\"saidthedamsel,\"nowIremember,thereisapersonofthatnameinL—,andhealsokeepsahousewhichhecallsthe—Arms,butitisonlyapublic—house。\"

  \"But,\"saidI,\"ishenotaprydydd,anillustriouspoet;doeshenotwritepennillionwhicheverybodyadmires?\"

  \"Well,\"saidthedamsel,\"Ibelievehedoeswritethingswhichhecallspennillions,buteverybodylaughsatthem。\"

  \"Come,come,\"saidI,\"Iwillnotheartheproductionsofamanwhotreatedmewithale,spokenofwithdisrespect。Iamafraidthatyouareoneofhisenviousmaligners,ofwhichhegavemetounderstandthathehadagreatmany。\"

  \"Envious,sir!notIindeed;andifIweredisposedtobeenviousofanybodyitwouldnotbeofhim;ohdear,whyheis—\"

  \"AbardofAnglesey,\"saidI,interruptingher,\"suchapersonasGronwyOwendescribesinthefollowinglines,whichby—the—byewerewrittenuponhimself:—

  \"’Where’erhegoeshe’ssuretofindRespectfullooksandgreetingskind。’

  \"ItellyouthatitwasoutofrespecttothatmanthatIcametothishouse。HadInotthoughtthathekeptit,Ishouldnothaveentereditandcalledforapintandchop—howdistressing!howtrulydistressing!\"

  \"Well,sir,\"saidthedamsel,\"ifthereisanythingdistressingyouhaveonlytothankyouracquaintancewhochoosestocallhismug—

  housebythenameofarespectablehotel,forIwouldhaveyouknowthatthisisanhotel,andkeptbyarespectableandareligiousman,andnotkeptby—However,Iscorntosaymore,especiallyasImightbemisinterpreted。Sir,there’syourpintandchop,andifyouwishforanythingelseyoucanring。Envious,indeed,ofsuch—Marrycomeup!\"andwithatossofherhead,higherthananyshehadhithertogiven,shebouncedoutoftheroom。

  Herewasaprettyaffair!IhadenteredthehouseandorderedthechopandpintinthebeliefthatbysodoingIwaspatronisingthepoet,andlo,Iwasnotinthepoet’shouse,andmyorderwouldbenefitapersonforwhom,howeverrespectableandreligious,I

  carednotonerush。Moreover,thepintwhichIhadorderedappearedintheguisenotofale,whichIamfondof,butofsherry,forwhichIhavealwaysentertainedasovereigncontempt,asasilly,sicklycompound,theuseofwhichwilltransformanation,howeverboldandwarlikebynature,intoaraceofsketchers,scribblers,andpunsters,infactintowhatEnglishmenareatthepresentday。Butwhowastoblame?Why,whobutthepoetandmyself?ThepoetoughttohavetoldmethatthereweretwohousesinL—bearingthesignofthe—Arms,andthatImustfightshyofthehotelandsteerforthepot—house,andwhenIgavetheorderIcertainlyoughttohavebeenalittlemoreexplicit;

  whenIsaidapintIoughttohaveadded—ofale。Sententiousnessisafinethingsometimes,butnotalways。Bybeingsententioushere,Igotsherry,whichIdislike,insteadofalewhichIlike,andshouldhavetopaymoreforwhatwasdisagreeable,thanI

  shouldhavehadtopayforwhatwasagreeable。YetIhadmerelyechoedthepoet’swordsincallingforapintandchop,soafterallthepoetwastoblameforbothmistakes。ButperhapshemeantthatIshoulddrinksherryathishouse,andwhenheadvisedmetocallforapint,hemeantapintofsherry。Butthemaidhadsaidhekeptapot—house,andnopot—houseshavewine—licences;butthemaidafterallmightbeanenviousbaggage,andnobetterthansheshouldbe。Butwhatwasnowtobedone?Why,clearlymakethebestofthematter,eatthechopandleavethesherry。SoI

  commencedeatingthechop,whichwasbythistimenearlycold。

  AftereatingafewmorselsIlookedatthesherry:\"Imayaswelltakeaglass,\"saidI。SowithawryfaceIpouredmyselfoutaglass。

  \"Whatdetestablestuff!\"saidI,afterIhaddrunkit。\"However,asIshallhavetopayforitImayaswellgothroughwithit。\"

  SoIpouredmyselfoutanotherglass,andbythetimeIhadfinishedthechopIhadfinishedthesherryalso。

  AndnowwhatwasItodonext?Why,mybestadviceseemedtobetopaymybillanddepart。ButIhadpromisedthepoettopatronizehishouse,andhadbymistakeorderedanddespatchedapintandchopinahousewhichwasnotthepoet’s。ShouldInowgotohishouseandorderapintandchopthere?Decidedlynot!IhadpatronisedahousewhichIbelievedtobethepoet’s;ifI

  patronisedthewrongone,thefaultwashis,notmine—heshouldhavebeenmoreexplicit。Ihadperformedmypromise,atleastinintention。

  PerfectlysatisfiedwiththeconclusionIhadcometo,Irangthebell。\"Thebill?\"saidItothehandmaid。

  \"Hereitis!\"saidshe,placingastripofpaperinmyhand。

  Ilookedatthebill,and,whethermoderateorimmoderate,paiditwithasmilingcountenance,commandedtheentertainmenthighly,andgavethedamselsomethinghandsomeforhertroubleinwaitingonme。

  Reader,pleasetobearinmindthatasallbillsmustbepaid,itismuchmorecomfortabletopaythemwithasmilethanwithafrown,andthatitismuchbetterbygivingsixpence,orashillingtoapoorservant,whichyouwillnevermissattheyear’send,tobefollowedfromthedoorofaninnbygoodwishes,thanbygivingnothingtobepursuedbycuttingsilence,ortheyetmorecuttingHm!

  \"Sir,\"saidthegood—looking,well—ribboneddamsel,\"Iwishyouapleasantjourney,andwheneveryoupleaseagaintohonourourestablishmentwithyourpresence,bothmymasterandmyselfshallbeinfinitelyobligedtoyou。\"

  CHAPTERXXXIX

  OatsandMethodism—TheLittleGirl—TyGwyn—BirdoftheRoof—

  PurestEnglish—Railroads—Inconsistency—TheBoots。

  ITmightbeaboutfourintheafternoonwhenIleftL—boundforPenCaerGybi,orHolyhead,seventeenmilesdistant。Ireachedthetopofthehillonthewestofthelittletown,andthenwalkedbrisklyforward。Thecountrylookedpoorandmean—onmyrightwasafieldofoats,onmyleftaMethodistchapel—oatsandMethodism!whatbettersymbolsofpovertyandmeanness?

  Iwentonwardalongway,theweatherwasbroilinghot,andIfeltthirsty。Onthetopofalongascentstoodahousebytheroadside。Iwenttothedoorandknocked—noanswer—\"Oesnebynyty?\"saidI。

  \"Oes!\"saidaninfantinevoice。

点击下载App,搜索"Wild Wales",免费读到尾