ion passed between us, and it was agreed that I should
become a contributor to the Oxford Review. I stipulated, however, that,
as I knew little of politics, and cared less, no other articles should be
required from me than such as were connected with belles-lettres and
philology; to this the big man readily assented. "Nothing will be
required from you," said he, "but what you mention; and now and then,
perhaps, a paper on metaphysics. You understand German, and perhaps it
would be desirable that you should review Kant; and in a review of Kant,
sir, you could introduce to advantage your peculiar notions about _ex
nihilo_." He then reverted to the subject of the "Dairyman's Daughter,"
which I promised to take into consideration. As I was going away, he
invited me to dine with him on the ensuing Sunday.

"That's a strange man!" said I to myself, after I had left the house, "he
is evidently very clever; but I cannot say that I like him much, with his
Oxford Reviews and Dairyman's Daughters. But what can I do? I am almost
without a friend in the world. I wish I could find some one who would
publish my ballads, or my songs of Ab Gwilym. In spite of what the big
man says, I am convinced that, once published, they would bring me much
fame and profit. But how is this?--what a beautiful sun!--the porter was
right in saying that the day would clear up--I will now go to my dingy
lodging, lock up my manuscripts, and then take a stroll about the big
city."

CHAPTER XXXI.

The Walk--London's Cheape--Street of the Lombards--Strange Bridge--Main
Arch--The Roaring Gulf--The Boat--Cly-Faking--A Comfort--The Book--The
Blessed Woman--No Trap.

So I set out on my walk to see the wonders of the big city, and, as
chance would have it, I directed my course to the east. The day, as I
have already said, had become very fine, so that I saw the great city to
advantage, and the wonders thereof: and much I admired all I saw; and,
amongst other things, the huge cathedral, standing so proudly on the most
commanding ground in the big city; and I looked up to the mighty dome,
surmounted by a golden cross, and I said within myself, "That dome must
needs be the finest in the world;" and I gazed upon it till my eyes
reeled, and my brain became dizzy, and I thought that the dome would fall
and crush me; and I shrank within myself, and struck yet deeper into the
heart of the big city.

"O Cheapside! Cheapside!" said I, as I advanced u