ow not. Perhaps the name
originally belonged to some chapel which stood either where the village
now stands or in the neighbourhood. The inn is a good specimen of an
ancient Welsh hostelry. Its gable is to the road and its front to a
little space on one side of the way. At a little distance up the road is
a blacksmith's shop. The country around is interesting: on the
north-west is a fine wooded hill--to the south a valley through which
flows the Cothi, a fair river, the one whose murmur had come so
pleasingly upon my ear in the depth of night.

After breakfast I departed for Llandovery. Presently I came to a lodge
on the left-hand beside an ornamental gate at the bottom of an avenue
leading seemingly to a gentleman's seat. On inquiring of a woman, who
sat at the door of the lodge, to whom the grounds belonged, she said to
Mr Johnes, and that if I pleased I was welcome to see them. I went in
and advanced along the avenue, which consisted of very noble oaks; on the
right was a vale in which a beautiful brook was running north and south.
Beyond the vale to the east were fine wooded hills. I thought I had
never seen a more pleasing locality, though I saw it to great
disadvantage, the day being dull, and the season the latter fall.
Presently, on the avenue making a slight turn, I saw the house, a plain
but comfortable gentleman's seat with wings. It looked to the south down
the dale. "With what satisfaction I could live in that house," said I to
myself, "if backed by a couple of thousands a-year. With what gravity
could I sign a warrant in its library, and with what dreamy comfort
translate an ode of Lewis Glyn Cothi, my tankard of rich ale beside me.
I wonder whether the proprietor is fond of the old bard and keeps good
ale. Were I an Irishman instead of a Norfolk man I would go in and ask
him."

Returning to the road I proceeded on my journey. I passed over Pont y
Rhanedd or the bridge of the Rhanedd, a small river flowing through a
dale, then by Clas Hywel, a lofty mountain which appeared to have three
heads. After walking for some miles I came to where the road divided
into two. By a sign-post I saw that both led to Llandovery, one by Porth
y Rhyd and the other by Llanwrda. The distance by the first was six
miles and a half, by the latter eight and a half. Feeling quite the
reverse of tired I chose the longest road, namely the one by Llanwrda,
along which I sped at a great rate.

In a little time I f