wild wales-第104章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
got over it。 After descending some time I hallooed。 The noise of
the hatchets ceased。 I hallooed again； and a voice cried in Welsh；
〃What do you want？〃 〃To know the way to Bala；〃 I replied。 There
was no answer； but presently I heard steps； and the figure of a man
drew nigh； half undistinguishable in the darkness； and saluted me。
I returned his salutation； and told him I wanted to know the way to
Bala。 He told me； and I found I had been going right。 I thanked
him and regained the road。 I sped onward； and in about half…an…
hour saw some houses； then a bridge； then a lake on my left； which
I recognised as the lake of Bala。 I skirted the end of it； and
came to a street cheerfully lighted up； and in a minute more was in
the White Lion Inn。
CHAPTER LXXII
Cheerful Fire … Immense Man … Doctor Jones … Recognition … A Fast
Young Man … Excellent Remarks … Disappointment。
I WAS conducted into the coffee…room of the White Lion by a little
freckled maid whom I saw at the bar； and whom I told that I was
come to pass the night at the inn。 The room presented an agreeable
contrast to the gloomy； desolate places through which I had lately
come。 A good fire blazed in the grate； and there were four lights
on the table。 Lolling in a chair by one side of the fire was an
individual at the sight of whom I almost started。 He was an
immense man； weighing I should say at least eighteen stone； with
brown hair； thinnish whiskers； half…ruddy； half…tallowy complexion；
and dressed in a brown sporting coat； drab breeches； and yellow…
topped boots … in every respect the exact image of the
Wolverhampton gent or hog…merchant who had appeared to me in my
dream at Llangollen； whilst asleep before the fire。 Yes； the very
counterpart of that same gent looked this enormous fellow； save and
except that he did not appear to be more than seven or eight and
twenty； whereas the hog…merchant looked at least fifty。 Laying my
satchel down I took a seat and ordered the maid to get some dinner
for me； and then asked what had become of the waiter； Tom Jenkins。
〃He is not here at present； sir；〃 said the freckled maid； 〃he is at
his own house。〃
〃And why is he not here？〃 said I。
〃Because he is not wanted； sir； he only comes in summer when the
house is full of people。〃
And having said this the little freckled damsel left the room。
〃Reither a cool night； sir！〃 said the enormous man after we had
been alone together a few minutes。
I again almost started； for he spoke with the same kind of half…
piping； half…wheezing voice； with which methought the Wolverhampton
gent had spoken to me in my dream。
〃Yes；〃 said I； 〃it is rather cold out abroad； but I don't care as I
am not going any farther to…night。〃
〃That's not my case；〃 said the stout man； 〃I have got to go ten
miles； as far as Cerrig Drudion； from which place I came this
afternoon in a wehicle。〃
〃Do you reside at Cerrig Drudion？〃 said I。
〃No；〃 said the stout man； whose dialect I shall not attempt further
to imitate； 〃but I have been staying there some time； for happening
to go there a month or two ago I was tempted to take up my quarters
at the inn。 A very nice inn it is； and the landlady a very
agreeable woman； and her daughters very agreeable young ladies。〃
〃Is this the first time you have been at Bala？〃
〃Yes； the first time。 I had heard a good deal about it； and wished
to see it。 So to…day； having the offer of a vehicle at a cheap
rate； I came over with two or three other gents； amongst whom is
Doctor Jones。〃
〃Dear me〃 said I； 〃is Doctor Jones in Bala？〃
〃Yes；〃 said the stout man。 〃Do you know him？〃
〃Oh yes；〃 said I； 〃and have a great respect for him； his like for
politeness and general learning is scarcely to be found in
Britain。〃
〃Only think；〃 said the stout man。 〃Well； I never heard that of him
before。〃
Wishing to see my sleeping room before I got my dinner； I now rose
and was making for the door； when it opened； and in came Doctor
Jones。 He had a muffler round his neck； and walked rather slowly
and disconsolately； leaning upon a cane。 He passed without
appearing to recognise me； and I； thinking it would be as well to
defer claiming acquaintance with him till I had put myself a little
to rights； went out without saying anything to him。 I was shown by
the freckled maid to a nice sleeping apartment； where I stayed some
time adjusting myself。 On my return to the coffee…room I found the
doctor sitting near the fire…place。 The stout man had left the
room。 I had no doubt that he had told Doctor Jones that I had
claimed acquaintance with him； and that the doctor； not having
recollected me； had denied that he knew anything of me； for I
observed that he looked at me very suspiciously。
I took my former seat； and after a minute's silence said to Doctor
Jones； 〃I think； sir； I had the pleasure of seeing you some time
ago at Cerrig Drudion？〃
〃It's possible； sir；〃 said Doctor Jones in a tone of considerable
hauteur； and tossing his head so that the end of his chin was above
his comforter； 〃but I have no recollection of it。〃
I held my head down for a little time； then raising it and likewise
my forefinger； I looked Doctor Jones full in the face and said；
〃Don't you remember talking to me about Owen Pugh and Coll Gwynfa？〃
〃Yes； I do；〃 said Doctor Jones in a very low voice； like that of a
person who deliberates； 〃yes； I do。 I remember you perfectly；
sir；〃 he added almost immediately in a tone of some animation； 〃you
are the gentleman with whom I had a very interesting conversation
one evening last summer in the bar of the inn at Cerrig Drudion。 I
regretted very much that our conversation was rather brief； but I
was called away to attend to a case； a professional case； sir； of
some delicacy； and I have since particularly regretted that I was
unable to return that night； as it would have given me much
pleasure to have been present at a dialogue； which I have been told
by my friend the landlady； you held with a certain Italian who was
staying at the house； which was highly agreeable and instructive to
herself and her daughter。〃
〃Well；〃 said I； 〃I am rejoiced that fate has brought us together
again。 How have you been in health since I had the pleasure of
seeing you？〃
〃Rather indifferent； sir； rather indifferent。 I have of late been
afflicted with several ailments； the original cause of which； I
believe； was a residence of several years in the Ynysoedd y
Gorllewin … the West India Islands … where I had the honour of
serving her present gracious Majesty's gracious uncle； George the
Fourth … in a medical capacity； sir。 I have likewise been
afflicted with lowness of spirits； sir。 It was this same lowness
of spirits which induced me to accept an invitation made by the
individual lately in the room to accompany him in a vehicle with
some other people to Bala。 I shall always consider my coming as a
fortunate circumstance； inasmuch as it has given me an opportunity
of renewing my acquaintance with you。〃
〃Pray；〃 said I； 〃may I take the liberty of asking who that
individual is？〃
〃Why；〃 said Doctor Jones； 〃he is what they call a Wolverhampton
gent。〃
〃A Wolverhampton gent；〃 said I to myself； 〃only think！〃
〃Were you pleased to make any observation； sir？〃 said the doctor。
〃I was merely saying something to myself；〃 said I。 〃And in what
line of business may he be？ I suppose in the hog line。〃
〃Oh no！〃 said Doctor Jones。 〃His father； it is true； is a hog…
merchant； but as for himself he follows no business； he is what is
called a fast young man； and goes about here and there on the
spree； as I think they term it； drawing； whenever he wants money；
upon his father； who is in affluent circumstances。 Some time ago
he came to Cerrig Drudion； and was so much pleased with the place；
the landlady； and her daughters； that he has made it his
headquarters ever since。 Being frequently at the house I formed an
acquaintance with him； and have occasionally made one in his
parties and excursions； though I can't say I derive much pleasure
from his con
