wild wales-第105章
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acquaintance with him； and have occasionally made one in his
parties and excursions； though I can't say I derive much pleasure
from his conversation； for he is a person of little or no
literature。〃
〃The son of a hog…merchant；〃 thought I to myself。 〃Depend upon it；
that immense fellow whom I saw in my dream purchase the big hog at
Llangollen fair； and who wanted me to give him a poond for his
bargain； was this gent's father。 Oh； there is much more in dreams
than is generally dreamt of by philosophy！〃
Doctor Jones presently began to talk of Welsh literature； and we
were busily engaged in discussing the subject when in walked the
fast young man； causing the floor to quake beneath his ponderous
tread。 He looked rather surprised at seeing the doctor and me
conversing； but Doctor Jones turning to him； said； 〃Oh； I remember
this gentleman perfectly。〃
〃Oh！〃 said the fast young man； 〃very good！〃 then flinging himself
down in a chair with a force that nearly broke it； and fixing his
eyes upon me； said； 〃I think I remember the gentleman too。 If I am
not much mistaken； sir； you are one of our principal engineers at
Wolverhampton。 Oh yes！ I remember you now perfectly。 The last
time I saw you was at a public dinner given to you at
Wolverhampton； and there you made a speech； and a capital speech it
was。〃
Just as I was about to reply Doctor Jones commenced speaking Welsh；
resuming the discourse on Welsh literature。 Before； however； he
had uttered a dozen words he was interrupted by the Wolverhampton
gent； who exclaimed in a blubbering tone： 〃O Lord； you are surely
not going to speak Welsh。 If I had thought I was to be bothered
with Welsh I wouldn't have asked you to come。〃
〃If I spoke Welsh； sir；〃 said the doctor； 〃it was out of compliment
to this gentleman； who is a proficient in the ancient language of
my country。 As； however； you dislike Welsh； I shall carry on the
conversation with him in English； though peradventure you may not
be more edified by it in that language than if it were held in
Welsh。〃
He then proceeded to make some very excellent remarks on the
history of the Gwedir family； written by Sir John Wynn； to which
the Wolverhampton gent listened with open mouth and staring eyes。
My dinner now made its appearance； brought in by the little
freckled maid … the cloth had been laid during my absence from the
room。 I had just begun to handle my knife and fork； Doctor Jones
still continuing his observations on the history of the Gwedir
family； when I heard a carriage drive up to the inn； and almost
immediately after； two or three young fellows rollicked into the
room： 〃Come let's be off；〃 said one of them to the Wolverhampton
gent； 〃the carriage is ready。〃 〃I'm glad of it；〃 said the fast
young man； 〃for it's rather slow work here。 Come； doctor！ are you
going with us or do you intend to stay here all night？〃 Thereupon
the doctor got up； and coming towards me leaning on his cane； said：
〃Sir！ it gives me infinite pleasure that I have met a second time a
gentleman of so much literature。 That we shall ever meet a third
time I may wish but can scarcely hope； owing to certain ailments
under which I suffer； brought on； sir； by a residence of many years
in the Occidental Indies。 However； at all events； I wish you
health and happiness。〃 He then shook me gently by the hand and
departed with the Wolverhampton gent and his companions； the gent
as he stumped out of the room saying； 〃Good…night； sir； I hope it
will not be long before I see you at another public dinner at
Wolverhampton； and hear another speech from you as good as the
last。〃 In a minute or two I heard them drive off。 Left to myself
I began to discuss my dinner。 Of the dinner I had nothing to
complain； but the ale which accompanied it was very bad。 This was
the more mortifying； for； remembering the excellent ale I had drunk
at Bala some months previously； I had； as I came along the gloomy
roads the present evening； been promising myself a delicious treat
on my arrival。
〃This is very bad ale！〃 said I to the freckled maid； 〃very
different from what I drank in the summer； when I was waited on by
Tom Jenkins。〃
〃It is the same ale； sir；〃 said the maid； 〃but the last in the
cask； and we shan't have any more for six months； when he will come
again to brew for the summer； but we have very good porter； sir；
and first…rate Allsopp。〃
〃Allsopp's ale；〃 said I； 〃will do for July and August； but scarcely
for the end of October。 However； bring me a pint； I prefer it at
all times to porter。〃
My dinner concluded； I trifled away my time till about ten o'clock；
and then went to bed。
CHAPTER LXXIII
Breakfast … The Freckled Maid … Llan uwch Llyn … The Landlady …
Llewarch Hen … Conversions to the Church。
AWAKING occasionally in the night I heard much storm and rain。 The
following morning it was gloomy and lowering。 As it was Sunday I
determined to pass the day at Bala； and accordingly took my Prayer
Book out of my satchel； and also my single white shirt； which I put
on。
Having dressed myself I went to the coffee…room and sat down to
breakfast。 What a breakfast！ … pot of hare； ditto of trout； pot of
prepared shrimps； dish of plain shrimps； tin of sardines； beautiful
beef…steak； eggs； muffin； large loaf； and butter； not forgetting
capital tea。 There's a breakfast for you！
As the little freckled maid was removing the breakfast things I
asked her how old she was。
〃Eighteen； sir； last Candlemas；〃 said the freckled maid。
〃Are your parents alive？〃
〃My mother is； sir； but my father is dead。〃
〃What was your father？〃
〃He was an Irishman； sir！ and boots to this inn。〃
〃Is your mother Irish？〃
〃No； sir； she is of this place； my father married her shortly after
he came here。〃
〃Of what religion are you？〃
〃Church； sir； Church。〃
〃Was your father of the Church？〃
〃Not always； sir； he was once what is called a Catholic。 He turned
to the Church after he came here。〃
〃A'n't there a great many Methodists in Bala？〃
〃Plenty； sir； plenty。〃
〃How came your father not to go over to the Methodists instead of
the Church？〃
〃'Cause he didn't like them； sir； he used to say they were a
trumpery； cheating set； that they wouldn't swear； but would lie
through a three…inch board。〃
〃I suppose your mother is a Church…woman？〃
〃She is now； sir； but before she knew my father she was a
Methodist。〃
〃Of what religion is the master of the house？〃
〃Church； sir； Church； so is all the family。〃
〃Who is the clergyman of the place？〃
〃Mr Pugh； sir！〃
〃Is he a good preacher？〃
〃Capital； sir！ and so is each of his curates； he and they are
converting the Methodists left and right。〃
〃I should like to hear him。〃
〃Well； sir！ that you can do。 My master； who is going to church
presently； will be happy to accommodate you in his pew。〃
I went to church with the landlord； a tall gentlemanly man of the
name of Jones … Oh that eternal name of Jones！ Rain was falling
fast； and we were glad to hold up our umbrellas。 We did not go to
the church at Bala； at which there was no service that morning； but
to that of a little village close by； on the side of the lake； the
living of which is incorporated with that of Bala。 The church
stands low down by the lake at the bottom of a little nook。 Its
name which is Llan uwch Llyn； is descriptive of its position；
signifying the Church above the Lake。 It is a long； low； ancient
edifice； standing north…east by south…west。 The village is just
above it on a rising ground； behind which are lofty hills
pleasantly dotted with groves； trees； and houses。 The interior of
the edifice has a somewhat dilapidated appearance。 The service was
in Welsh。 The clergyman was about forty years of age； and had a
highly…intelligent look。 His voice was remarkably clear and
distinct。 He preached an excellent practical sermon； text； 14th
chapter； 22nd verse of Luke； about sending out servants to invite
people to the supper。 After the sermon there was a gathering for
the poor。
As I returned to the inn I h
