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。\"