wild wales-第93节

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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　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　an