it?" said the landlady eagerly.

"To roam about in a dissipated manner," said I.

"Something more," said the Italian. "It is considered a vulgar word even
in jergo."

"You speak English remarkably well," said I; "have you been long in
Britain?"

"I came over about four years ago," said the Italian.

"On your own account?" said I.

"Not exactly, signore; my brother, who was in business in Liverpool,
wrote to me to come over and assist him. I did so, but soon left him,
and took a shop for myself at Denbigh, where, however, I did not stay
long. At present I travel for an Italian house in London, spending the
summer in Wales, and the winter in England."

"And what do you sell?" said I.

"Weather-glasses, signore--pictures and little trinkets, such as the
country people like."

"Do you sell many weather-glasses in Wales?" said I.

"I do not, signore. The Welsh care not for weather-glasses; my principal
customers for weather-glasses are the farmers of England."

"I am told that you can speak Welsh," said I; "is that true?"

"I have picked up a little of it, signore."

"He can speak it very well," said the landlady; "and glad should I be,
sir, to hear you and him speak Welsh together."

"So should I," said the daughter who was seated nigh us, "nothing would
give me greater pleasure than to hear two who are not Welshmen speaking
Welsh together."

"I would rather speak English," said the Italian; "I speak a little
Welsh, when my business leads me amongst people who speak no other
language, but I see no necessity for speaking Welsh here."

"It is a pity," said I, "that so beautiful a country as Italy should not
be better governed."

"It is, signore," said the Italian; "but let us hope that a time will
speedily come when she will be so."

"I don't see any chance of it," said I. "How will you proceed in order
to bring about so desirable a result as the good government of Italy?"

"Why, signore, in the first place we must get rid of the Austrians."

"You will not find it an easy matter," said I, "to get rid of the
Austrians; you tried to do so a little time ago, but miserably failed."

"True, signore; but the next time we try perhaps the French will help
us."

"If the French help you to drive the Austrians from Italy," said I, "you
must become their servants. It is true you had better be the servants of
the polished and chivalrous French, than of the brutal and barbarous
Germans, but it is not pleas