eys. A mile or two further the
ground began to rise, and I came to a small village at the entrance of
which was a water-wheel--near the village was a gentleman's seat almost
surrounded by groves. After I had passed through the village, seeing a
woman seated by the roadside knitting, I asked her in English its name.
Finding she had no Saesneg I repeated the question in Welsh, whereupon
she told me that it was called Pentre Voelas.

"And whom does the 'Plas' belong to yonder amongst the groves?" said I.

"It belongs to Mr Wynn, sir, and so does the village and a great deal of
the land about here. A very good gentleman is Mr Wynn, sir; he is very
kind to his tenants and a very good lady is Mrs Wynn, sir; in the winter
she gives much soup to the poor."

After leaving the village of Pentre Voelas I soon found myself in a wild
hilly region. I crossed a bridge over a river, which, brawling and
tumbling amidst rocks, shaped its course to the north-east. As I
proceeded, the country became more and more wild; there were dingles and
hollows in abundance, and fantastic-looking hills, some of which were
bare, and others clad with trees of various kinds. Came to a little well
in a cavity, dug in a high bank on the left-hand side of the road, and
fenced by rude stone work on either side; the well was about ten inches
in diameter, and as many deep. Water oozing from the bank upon a
slanting tile fastened into the earth fell into it. After damming up the
end of the tile with my hand, and drinking some delicious water, I passed
on and presently arrived at a cottage, just inside the door of which sat
a good-looking middle-aged woman engaged in knitting, the general
occupation of Welsh females.

"Good-day," said I to her in Welsh. "Fine weather."

"In truth, sir, it is fine weather for the harvest."

"Are you alone in the house?"

"I am, sir, my husband has gone to his labour."

"Have you any children?"

"Two, sir; but they are out at service."

"What is the name of this place?"

"Pant Paddock, sir."

"Do you get your water from the little well yonder?"

"We do, sir, and good water it is."

"I have drunk of it."

"Much good may what you have drunk do you, sir!"

"What is the name of the river near here?"

"It is called the Conway, sir."

"Dear me; is that river the Conway?"

"You have heard of it, sir?"

"Heard of it! it is one of the famous rivers of the world. The poets are
very fond of it--one of the