Marthaforthwithhurriedaway，attendedbyamuchyoungerfemale。
\"Tillyourroomisprepared，sir，\"saidhe，\"perhapsyouwillhavenoobjectiontositdownbeforeourfire？\"
\"Nottheleast，\"saidI；\"nothinggivesmegreaterpleasurethantositbeforeakitchenfire。Firstofall，however，Imustsettlewithmyguide，andlikewiseseethathehassomethingtoeatanddrink。\"
\"ShallIinterpretforyou？\"saidthelandlord；\"theladhasnotawordofEnglish；Iknowhimwell。\"
\"Ihavenotbeenunderhisguidanceforthelastthreehours，\"saidI，\"withoutknowingthathecannotspeakEnglish；butIwantnointerpreter。\"
\"Youdonotmeantosay，sir，\"saidthelandlord，withasurprisedanddissatisfiedair，\"thatyouunderstandWelsh？\"
Imadenoanswer，butturningtotheguidethankedhimforhiskindness，andgivinghimsomemoneyaskedhimifitwasenough。
\"Morethanenough，sir，\"saidthelad；\"Ididnotexpecthalfasmuch。Farewell！\"
Hewasthenabouttodepart，butIpreventedhimsaying：
\"Youmustnotgotillyouhaveeatenanddrunk。Whatwillyouhave？\"
\"Merelyacupofale，sir，\"saidthelad。
\"Thatwon’tdo，\"saidI；\"youshallhavebreadandcheeseandasmuchaleasyoucandrink。Pray，\"saidItothelandlord，\"letthisyoungmanhavesomebreadandcheeseandalargequartofale。\"
Thelandlordlookedatmeforamoment，thenturningtotheladhesaid：
\"Whatdoyouthinkofthat，Shon？Itissometimesinceyouhadaquartofaletoyourowncheek。\"
\"Cheek，\"saidI—\"cheek！IsthataWelshword？SurelyitisanimportationfromtheEnglish，andnotaverygenteelone。\"
\"Ohcome，sir！\"saidthelandlord，\"wecandispensewithyourcriticisms。Aprettythingindeedforyou，onthestrengthofknowinghalf—a—dozenwordsofWelsh，tosetupforaWelshcriticinthehouseofapersonwhoknowstheancientBritishlanguageperfectly。\"
\"Dearme！\"saidI，\"howfortunateIam！apersonthoroughlyversedintheancientBritishlanguageiswhatIhavelongwishedtosee。
PraywhatisthemeaningofDarfelGatherel？\"
\"Ohsir！\"saidthelandlord，\"youmustanswerthatquestionyourself；Idon’tpretendtounderstandgibberish！\"
\"DarfelGatherel，\"saidI，\"isnotgibberish；itwasthenameofthegreatwoodenimageatTyDewi，orSaintDavid’s，inPembrokeshire，towhichthousandsofpilgrimsinthedaysofpoperyusedtorepairforthepurposeofadoringit，andwhichatthetimeoftheReformationwassentuptoLondonasacuriosity，whereiteventuallyservedasfirewoodtoburnthemonkForrestupon，whowassentencedtothestakebyHenrytheEighthfordenyinghissupremacy。WhatIwanttoknowis，themeaningofthename，whichIcouldnevergetexplained，butwhichyouwhoknowtheancientBritishlanguageperfectlycandoubtlessinterpret。\"
\"Oh，sir，\"saidthelandlord，\"whenIsaidIknewtheBritishlanguageperfectly，Iperhapswenttoofarthereare，ofcourse，someobsoletetermsintheBritishtongue，whichIdon’tunderstand。Dar，Dar—whatisit？DarmodCotterelamongsttherest；buttoageneralknowledgeoftheWelshlanguageIthinkI
maylaysomepretensions；wereInotwellacquaintedwithit，I
shouldnothavecarriedofftheprizeatvariouseisteddfodau，asI
havedone。Iamapoet，sir—aprydydd。\"
\"Itissingularenough，\"saidI，\"thattheonlytwoWelshpoetsI
haveseenhavebeeninnkeepers—oneisyourself，theotherapersonImetinAnglesey。IsupposetheMuseisfondofcwrwda。\"
\"Youwouldfainbepleasant，sir，\"saidthelandlord；\"butIbegleavetoinformyouthatIamnotfondofpleasantries；andnow，asmywifeandtheservantarereturned，Iwillhavethepleasureofconductingyoutotheparlour。\"
\"BeforeIgo，\"saidI，\"IshouldliketoseemyguideprovidedwithwhatIordered。\"Istayedtilltheladwasaccommodatedwithbreadandcheeseandafoamingtankardofale，andthenbiddinghimfarewell，Ifollowedthelandlordintotheparlour，whereIfoundafirekindled，which，however，smokedexceedingly。IaskedmyhostwhatIcouldhaveforsupper，andwastoldthathedidnotknow，butthatifIwouldleavethemattertohimhewouldsendthebesthecould。Ashewasgoingaway，Isaid：\"Soyouareapoet？
Well，Iamverygladtohearit，forIhavebeenfondofWelshpoetryfrommyboyhood。Whatkindofversedoyouemployingeneral？Didyoueverwriteanawdlinthefour—and—twentymeasures？Whatarethethemesofyoursongs？ThedeedsoftheancientheroesofSouthWales，Isuppose，andthehospitalityofthegreatmenoftheneighbourhoodwhoreceiveyouasanhonouredguestattheirtables。I’llbetaguineathathowevercleverafellowyoumaybeyouneversanganythinginpraiseofyourlandlord’shousekeepingequaltowhatDafyddNanmorsanginpraiseofthatofRyceofTwynfourhundredyearsago：
’ForRyceifhundredthousandsplough’dThelandsaroundhisfairabode；
Didvinesofthousandvineyardsbleed，StillcornandwinegreatRycewouldneed；
Ifalltheearthhadbread’ssweetsavour，Andwaterallhadcyder’sflavour，ThreeroaringfeastsinRyce’shallWouldswallowearthandoceanall。’
Hey？\"
\"Really，sir，\"saidthelandlord，\"Idon’tknowhowtoreplytoyou，forthegreaterpartofyourdiscourseisutterlyunintelligibletome。PerhapsyouareabetterWelshmanthanmyself；buthoweverthatmaybe，Ishalltakethelibertyofretiringinordertogiveordersaboutyoursupper。\"
Inabouthalf—an—hourthesuppermadeitsappearanceintheshapeofsomebaconandeggs。OntastingthemIfoundthemverygood，andcallingforsomealeImadeaverytolerablesupper。AfterthethingshadbeenremovedIdrewneartothefire，butasitstillsmoked，Isoonbetookmyselftothekitchen。Myguidehadtakenhisdeparture，buttheotherswhomIhadleftwerestillthere。
ThelandlordwastalkinginWelshtoamaninaroughgreat—coat，aboutsheep。SettinghimselfdownnearthefireIcalledforaglassofwhiskeyandwater，andthenobservingthatthelandlordandhisfriendhadsuddenlybecomesilent，Isaid：\"Praygoonwithyourdiscourse；don’tletmebeanyhindrancetoyou。\"
\"Yes，sir！\"saidthelandlordsnappishly，\"goonwithourdiscourseforyouredification，Isuppose？\"
\"Well，\"saidI，\"supposeitisformyedification；surelyyoudon’tgrudgeastrangeralittleedificationwhichwillcostyounothing？\"
\"Idon’tknowthat，sir，\"saidthelandlord；\"Idon’tknowthat。
Really，sir，thekitchenisnottheplaceforagentleman。\"
\"Yes，itis，\"saidI，\"providedtheparloursmokes。Come，come，I
amgoingtohaveaglassofwhiskeyandwater；perhapsyouwilltakeonewithme。\"
\"Well，sir！\"saidthelandlord，inratherasoftenedtone，\"Ihavenoobjectiontotakeaglasswithyou。\"
Twoglassesofwhiskeyandwaterwerepresentlybrought，andthelandlordandIdranktoeachother’shealth。
\"Isthisasheepdistrict？\"saidI，afterapauseofaminuteortwo。
\"Yes，sir，\"saidthelandlord；\"itmaytoacertainextentbecalledasheepdistrict。\"
\"IsupposetheSouthdownandNorfolkbreedswouldnotdoforthesehereparts，\"saidI，witharegularNorfolkwhine。
\"No，sir，Idon’tthinktheywouldexactly，\"saidthelandlord，staringatme。\"Doyouknowanythingaboutsheep？\"
\"Plenty，plenty，\"saidI；\"quiteasmuchindeedasaboutWelshwordsandpoetry。\"Theninayetmorewhiningtonethanbefore，I
said：\"Doyouthinkthatabodywithmoneyinhispocketcouldhireanicecomfortablesheepfarmhereabouts？\"
\"Oh，sir！\"saidthelandlordinafurioustone，\"youhavecometolookoutforafarm，Isee，andtooutbiduspoorWelshmen：itisonthataccountyouhavestudiedWelsh；but，sir，Iwouldhaveyouknow—\"
\"Come！\"saidI，\"don’tbeafraid；Iwouldn’thaveallthefarmsinyourcountry，providedyouwouldtietheminastringandofferthemtome。IfItalkedaboutafarm，itwasbecauseIaminthehabitoftalkingabouteverything，beingversedinallmatters，doyousee，oraffectingtobeso，whichcomesmuchtothesamething。
MyrealbusinessinthisneighbourhoodistoseetheDevil’sBridgeandthesceneryaboutit。\"
\"Verygood，sir，\"saidthelandlord；\"Ithoughtsoatfirst。A
greatmanyEnglishgotoseetheDevil’sBridgeandthescenerynearit，thoughIreallydon’tknowwhy，forthereisnothingsoveryparticularineither。Wehaveabridgeheretoo，quiteasgoodastheDevil’sBridge；andasforscenery，I’llbackthesceneryaboutthishouseagainstanythingofthekindintheneighbourhoodoftheDevil’sBridge。YeteverybodygoestotheDevil’sBridgeandnobodycomeshere！\"
\"Youmighteasilybringeverybodyhere，\"saidI，\"ifyouwouldbutemployyourtalent。Youshouldcelebratethewondersofyourneighbourhoodincowydds，andyouwouldsoonhaveplentyofvisitors；butyoudon’twantthem，youknow，andprefertobewithoutthem。\"
Thelandlordlookedatmeforamoment，thentakingsipofhiswhiskeyandwaterheturnedtothemanwithwhomhehadpreviouslybeentalkingandrecommencedthediscourseaboutsheep。Imakenodoubt，however，thatIwasarestraintuponthem；theyfrequentlyglancedatme，andsoonfelltowhispering。Atlastbothgotupandlefttheroom，thelandlordfinishinghisglassofwhiskeyandwaterbeforehewentaway。
\"SoyouaregoingtotheDevil’sBridge，sir！\"saidanelderlyman，dressedinagreycoat，withabroad—brimmedhat，whosatonthesettlesmokingapipeincompanywithanotherelderlymanwithaleatherhat，withwhomIhadheardhimdiscoursesometimesinWelsh，sometimesinEnglish，theWelshwhichhespokebeingratherbroken。
\"Yes，\"saidI，\"Iamgoingtohaveasightofthebridgeandtheneighbouringscenery。\"
\"Well，sir，Idon’tthinkyouwillbedisappointed，forbotharewonderful。\"
\"AreyouaWelshman？\"saidI。
\"No，sir，Iamnot；IamanEnglishmanfromDurham，whichisthebestcountyinEngland。\"
\"Soitis，\"saidI—\"forsomethingsatanyrate。Forexample，wheredoyoufindsuchbeefasinDurham？\"
\"Ah，whereindeed，sir？IhavealwayssaidthatneithertheDevonshirenortheLincolnshirebeefistobenamedinthesamedaywiththatofDurham。\"
\"Well，\"saidI，\"whatbusinessdoyoufollowintheseparts？I
supposeyoufarm？\"
\"No，sir，Idonot；Iamwhattheycallaminingcaptain。\"
\"Isupposethatgentleman，\"saidI，motioningtothemanintheleatherhat，\"isnotfromDurham？\"
\"No，sir，heisnot；heisfromthisneighbourhood。\"
\"Anddoeshefollowmining？\"
\"No，sir，hedoesnot；hecarriesabouttheletters。\"
\"Isyourminenearthisplace？\"
\"Notvery，sir；itisnearertheDevil’sBridge。\"
\"WhyisthebridgecalledtheDevil’sBridge？\"said\"Because，sir，’tissaidthattheDevilbuiltitintheoldtime，thoughthatIcanhardlybelieve；fortheDevil，doyesee，delightsinnothingbutmischief，anditisnotlikelythatsuchbeingthecasehewouldhavebuiltathingwhichmusthavebeenofwonderfulservicetopeoplebyenablingthemtopassinsafetyoveradreadfulgulf。\"
\"Ihaveheard，\"saidtheoldpostmanwiththeleatherhat，\"thattheDevilhadnohandindeworkatall，butthatitwasbuiltbyaMynach，ormonk，onwhichaccountderiveroverwhichdebridgeisbuiltiscalledAfonyMynach—datisdeMonk’sRiver。\"
\"Didyoueverhear，\"saidI，\"ofthreecreatureswholivedalongtimeagoneartheDevil’sBridge，calledthePlantdeBat？\"
\"Ah，master！\"saidtheoldpostman，\"Idoseethatyouhavebeeninthesepartsbefore；hadyounot，youwouldnotknowofthePlantdeBat。\"
\"No，\"saidI，\"Ihaveneverbeenherebefore；butIheardofthemwhenIwasaboy，fromaCumrowhotaughtmeWelsh，andhadlivedforsometimeintheseparts。Well，whatdotheysayhereaboutthePlantdeBat？forhewhomentionedthemtomecouldgivemenofurtherinformationaboutthemthanthattheywerehorridcreatureswholivedinacaveneartheDevil’sBridgeseveralhundredyearsago。\"
\"Well，master，\"saidtheoldpostman，thrustinghisforefingertwiceorthriceintothebowlofhispipe，\"IwilltellyouwhattheysayshereaboutthePlantdeBat。Indeoldtime—two，threehundredyearago—amanlivedsomewhereaboutherecalledBatorBartholomew；thismanhadthreechildren，twoboysandonegirl，who，becausetheirfather’snamewasBat，weregenerallycalled’PlantdeBat，’orBat’schildren。Verywickedchildrentheywerefromtheircradle，givingtheirfatherandmothermuchtroubleanduneasiness；nogoodinanyoneofthem，neitherintheboysnorthegirl。Nowtheboys，oncewhentheywereramblingidlyabout，lightedbychanceuponacaveneartheDevil’sBridge。Verystrangecaveitwas，withjustonelittleholeattoptogoinby；
sotheboyssaidtooneanother：’Nicecavethisforthieftolivein。Supposewecomeherewhenwearealittlemorebigandturnthiefourselves。’Well，theywaitedtilltheywerealittlemorebig，andthenleavingtheirfather’shousetheycametodecaveandturnedthief，lyingsnugtherealldayandgoingoutatnighttorobupontheroads。Well，therewassoonmuchtalkinthecountryabouttherobberieswhichwerebeingcommitted，andpeopleoftenwentoutinsearchofdethieves，butallinvain；andnowonder，fortheywereinacaveveryhardtolightupon，having，asIsaidbefore，merelyonelittleholeattoptogoinby。So，Bat’sboyswentonswimminglyforalongtime，lyingsnugincavebydayandgoingoutatnighttorob，lettingnooneknowwheretheywerebuttheirsister，whowasasbadasthemselves，andusedtocometothemandbringthemfoodandstaywiththemforweeks，andsometimesgooutandrobwiththem。Butasdepitcherwhichgoesoftentodewellcomeshomebrokeatlast，soithappenedwithBat’schildren。Afterrobbingpeopleupontheroadsbynightmanyalongyearandneverbeingfoundout，theyatlastmetonegreatgentlemanupontheroadsbynightandnotonlyrobbed，butkilledhim，leavinghisbodyallcutandgashedneartoDevil’sBridge。
ThatjobwastheruinofPlantdeBat，forthegreatgentleman’sfriendsgatheredtogetherandhuntedafterhismurdererswithdogs，andatlengthcametothecave，andgoingin，founditstockedwithriches，andthePlantdeBatsittingupontheriches，notonlytheboysbutthegirlalso。SotheytookouttherichesandthePlantdeBat，andtherichestheydidgivetochurchesandspyttys，andthePlantdeBattheydidexecute，hangingtheboysandburningthegirl。That，master，iswhattheysaysindesepartsaboutthePlantdeBat。\"
\"Thankyou！\"saidI。\"Isthecaveyettobeseen？\"
\"Ohyes！itisyettobeseen，orpartofit，foritisnotnowwhatitwas，havingbeenpartlyflungopentohinderotherthievesfromnestlinginit。ItisonthebankoftheriverMynach，justbeforeitjoinstheRheidol。ManygentlefolkindesummergotoseethePlantdeBat’scave。\"
\"Areyousure，\"saidI，\"thatPlantdeBatmeansBat’schildren？\"
\"Iamnotsure，master；ImerelysayswhatIhaveheardotherpeoplesay。Ibelievesomesaysthatitmeans’thewickedchildren，’or’theDevil’schildren。’Andnow，master，wemayaswellhavedonewiththem，forshouldyouquestionmethroughthewholenight，IcouldtellyounothingmoreaboutthePlantdeBat。\"
Afteralittlefurtherdiscourse，chieflyaboutsheepandtheweather，Iretiredtotheparlour，wherethefirewasnowburningbrightly；seatingmyselfbeforeit，Iremainedforaconsiderabletimestaringattheembersandthinkingovertheeventsoftheday。
AtlengthIrangthebellandbeggedtobeshowntomychamber，whereIsoonsanktosleep，lulledbythepatteringofrainagainstthewindowandthesoundofaneighbouringcascade。
CHAPTERLXXXIII
WildScenery—AwfulChasm—JohnGreaves—DurhamCounty—QueenPhilippa—TheTwoAldens—WelshWife—TheNoblestBusiness—TheWelshandtheSalve—TheLadJohn。
ARAINYandboisterousnightwassucceededbyabrightandbeautifulmorning。IaroseandhavingorderedbreakfastwentforthtoseewhatkindofcountryIhadgotinto。Ifoundmyselfamongstwild，strange—lookinghills，not，however，ofanyparticularheight。Thehouse，whichseemedtofronttheeast，stoodonthesideofahill，onawideplatformabuttingonadeepandawfulchasm，atthebottomofwhichchafedandfoamedtheRheidol。ThisriverentersthevalleyofPontErwydfromthenorth—west，thenmakesavarietyofsnake—liketurns，andatlastbearsawaytothesouth—eastjustbelowtheinn。Thebanksaresheerwalls，fromsixtytoahundredfeethigh，andthebedoftheriverhasalltheappearanceofavolcanicrent。Abrook，runningfromthesouthpasttheinn，tumblesintothechasmatanangle，andformsthecascadewhosesoundhadlulledmetosleeptheprecedingnight。
AfterbreakfastingIpaidmybill，andsetoutfortheDevil’sBridgewithoutseeinganythingmoreofthatremarkablepersonageinwhomwereunitedlandlord，farmer，poet，andmightyfinegentleman—themasterofthehouse。Isoonreachedthebottomofthevalley，whereareafewhousesandthebridgefromwhichtheplacetakesitsname，PontErwydsignifyingthebridgeofErwyd。AsI
waslookingoverthebridge，nearwhicharetwoorthreesmallwaterfalls，anelderlymaninagreycoat，followedbyayoungladanddog，camedowntheroadwhichIhadmyselfjustdescended。
\"Goodday，sir，\"saidhe，stopping，whenhecameuponthebridge。
\"Isupposeyouareboundmyroad？\"
\"Ah，\"saidI，recognisingtheoldminingcaptainwithwhomIhadtalkedinthekitchenthenightbefore，\"isityou？Iamgladtoseeyou。Yes，Iamboundyourway，providedyouaregoingtotheDevil’sBridge。\"
\"Then，sir，wecangotogether，forIamboundtomymine，whichliesonlyalittlewayt’othersideoftheDevil’sBridge。\"
CrossingthebridgeofErwyd，wedirectedourcoursetothesouth—
east。
\"Whatyoungmanisthat，\"saidI，\"whoisfollowingbehindus？\"
\"Theyoungman，sir，ismysonJohn，andthedogwithhimishisdogJoe。\"
\"Andwhatmayyournamebe，ifImaytakethelibertyofasking？\"
\"Greaves，sir；JohnGreavesfromthecountyofDurham。\"
\"Ah！acapitalcountythat，\"saidI。
\"Youlikethecounty，sir？Godblessyou！John！\"saidheinaloudvoice，turningtothelad，\"whydon’tyouoffertocarrythegentleman’sknapsack？\"
\"Don’tlethimtroublehimself，\"saidI。\"AsIwasjustnowsaying，acapitalcountyisDurhamcounty。\"
\"Youreallyhadbetterlettheboycarryyourbag，sir。\"
\"No，\"saidI，\"Iwouldrathercarryitmyself。IquestionuponthewholewhetherthereisabettercountyinEngland。\"
\"IsitlongsinceyourhonourwasinDurhamcounty？\"
\"Agoodlongtime。Amatteroffortyyears。\"
\"Fortyyears！—whythat’sthelifeofaman。That’slongerthanI
havebeenoutofthecountymyself。Isupposeyourhonourcan’tremembermuchaboutthecounty。\"
\"Ohyes，Ican！Irememberagooddeal。\"
\"Please，yourhonour，tellmewhatyourememberaboutthecounty。
Itwoulddomegoodtohearit。\"
\"Well，Irememberitwasaveryfinecountyinmorerespectsthanone。Onepartofitwasfullofbighillsandmountains，wheretherewereminesofcoalandlead，withmightyworkswithtallchimneysspoutingoutblacksmoke，andenginesroaring，andbigwheelsgoinground，someturnedbysteam，andothersbywhattheycallforces，thatis，brooksofwaterdashingdownsteepchannels。
Anotherpartwasamorelevelcountry，withbeautifulwoods，happy—
lookingfarm—houseswell—filledfieldsandrich，gloriousmeadows，inwhichstoodstately，withbrownsidesandshorthorns，theDurhamox。\"
\"Ohdear，ohdear！\"saidmycompanion。\"Ah！IseeyourhonourknowseverythingaboutDurhamcounty。Forces？nonebutonewhohadbeeninDurhamcountywouldhaveusedthatword。Ihaven’thearditforfive—and—thirtyyears。Forces！therewasaforceclosetomyvillage。IwonderifyourhonourhaseverbeeninDurhamcity？\"
\"Ohyes！Ihavebeenthere。\"
\"DoesyourhonourrememberanythingaboutDurhamcity？\"
\"Ohyes！Irememberagooddealaboutit。\"
\"Then，yourhonour，praytelluswhatyourememberaboutit—praydoIperhapsitwilldomegood。\"
\"Wellthen，Irememberthatitwasafineoldcitystandingonahillwithariverrunningunderit，andthatithadafineoldchurch，oneofthefinestintheofBritain；likewiseafineoldcastle；andlast，notleast，acapitaloldinn，whereIgotacapitaldinneroffroastDurhambeef，andacapitalglassofale，whichIbelievewasthecause，ofmybeingeverafterfondofale。\"
\"Dearme！Ah，IseeyourhonourknowsallaboutDurhamcity。Andnowletmeaskonequestion。HowcameyourhonourtoDurham，cityandcounty？Idon’tthinkyourhonourisaDurhammaneitheroftownorfield。\"
\"Iamnot；butwhenIwasalittleboyIpassedthroughDurhamcountywithmymotherandbrothertoaplacecalledScotland。\"
\"Scotland！aqueercountrythat，yourhonour！\"
\"Soitis，\"saidI；\"aqueerercountryIneversawinallmylife。\"
\"Andaqueersetofpeople，yourhonour。\"
\"Sotheyare，\"saidI；\"aqueerersetofpeoplethantheScotchyouwouldscarcelyseeinasummer’sday。\"
\"TheDurhamfolks，neitheroftownorfield，havemuchreasontospeakwelloftheScotch，yourhonour。\"
\"Idaresaynot，\"saidI；\"veryfewpeoplehave。\"
\"AndyettheDurhamfolks，yourhonour，generallycontrivedtogivethemasgoodastheybrought。\"
\"Thattheydid，\"saidI；\"aprettylickingtheDurhamfolksoncegavetheScotsunderthewallsofDurhamcity，afterthescampshadbeenplunderingthecountryforthreeweeks—apreciouslickingtheygavethem，slayingIdon’tknowhowmanythousands，andtakingtheirkingprisoner。\"
\"Sotheydid，yourhonour，andunderthecommandofawomantoo。\"
\"Verytrue，\"saidI；\"QueenPhilippa。\"
\"Justso，yourhonour！TheideathatyourhonourshouldknowsomuchaboutDurham，bothfieldandtown！\"
\"Well，\"saidI，\"sinceIhavetoldyousomuchaboutDurham，perhapsyouwilltellmesomethingaboutyourself。Howdidyoucomehere？\"
\"Ihadbetterbeginfromthebeginning，yourhonour。IwasborninDurhamcountyclosebesidetheGreatForce，whichnodoubtyourhonourhasseen。Myfatherwasafarmer，andhadabitofashareinaminingconcern。Iwasbroughtupfrommychildhoodbothtofarmingandminingwork，butmosttomining，because，doyousee，I
tookmostpleasureinit，beingthemorenoblebusinessofthetwo。
ShortlyafterIhadcometoman’sestatemyfatherdied，leavingmeadecentlittleproperty，whereuponIforsookfarmingaltogetherandgavemyselfup，body，soul，andcapital，tomining，whichatlastIthoroughlyunderstandinallitsbranches。Well，yourhonour，aboutfive—and—thirtyyearsago—thatwaswhenIwasabouttwenty—eight—acrywentthroughthenorthcountrythatagreatdealofmoneymightbemadebyopeningWales，thatis，bymininginWalesintheproperfashion，whichmeansthenorthcountryfashion，forthereisnootherfashionofmininggoodformuch。TherehadlongbeenminesinWales，buttheyhadalwaysbeenworkedinapoor，weak，languidmanner，verydifferentfromthatofthenorthcountry。Soacompanywasformed，attheheadofwhichweretheAldens，GeorgeandThomas，foropeningWales，andtheypurchasedcertainminesinthesedistrictswhichtheyknewtobeproductive，andwhichmightbemadeyetmoreso，andsettlingdownherecalledthemselvestheRheidolUnited。Well，aftertheyhadbeenherealittletimetheyfoundthemselvesinwantofamantosuperintendtheirconcerns，aboveallinthesmeltingdepartment。Sotheythoughtofme，whowasknowntomostofthemininggentryinthenorthcountry，andtheymadeaproposaltomethroughGeorgeAlden，afterwardsSirGeorge，tocomehereandsuperintend。Isaidnoatfirst，forIdidn’tliketheideaofleavingDurhamcountytocometosuchanoutlandishplaceasWales；howsomeover，IatlastallowedmyselftobeoverpersuadedbyGeorgeAlden，afterwardsSirGeorge，andhereIcamewithmywifeandfamily—forImusttellyourhonourIhadmarriedarespectableyoungwomanofDurhamcounty，bywhomIhadtwolittleones—hereIcameanddidmybestfortheserviceoftheRheidolUnited。Thecompanywasterriblysettoitforalongtime，spendingamintofmoneyandgettingverypoorreturns。Tomycertainknowledge，thetwoAldens，GeorgeandTom，spentbetweenthemthirtythousandpounds。Thecompany，however，persevered，chieflyattheinstigationoftheAldens，whowereinthehabitofsaying，’Neversaydie！’andatlastgotthebetterofalltheirdifficultiesandrolledinriches，andhadthecreditofbeingthefirstcompanythateveropenedWales，whichtheyrichlydeserved，forIwillupholditthattheRheidolUnited，particularlytheAldens，GeorgeandThomas，werethefirstpeoplewhoreallyopenedWales。IntheirserviceIhavebeenforfive—
and—thirtyyears，anddaresayshallcontinuesotillIdie。Ihavebeentolerablycomfortable，yourhonour，thoughIhavehadmygriefs，thebitterestofwhichwasthedeathofmywife，whichhappenedabouteightyearsafterIcametothiscountry。IthoughtIshouldhavegonewildatfirst，yourhonour；having，however，alwaysplentytodo，Iatlastgotthebetterofmyaffliction。I