"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。