his fathers before him, but he left it at an
early age and married my mother in Liverpool, who was an Anglesey woman,
and so I was born in Liverpool."

"And what did you do in Liverpool?" said I.

"My mother kept a little shop," said the girl, "whilst my father followed
various occupations."

"And how long have you been here?" said I.

"Since the death of my grandfather," said the girl, "which happened about
a year ago. When he died my father came here and took possession of his
birth-right."

"You speak very good English," said I; "have you any Welsh?"

"Oh yes, plenty," said the girl; "we always speak Welsh together, but
being born at Liverpool, I of course have plenty of English."

"And which language do you prefer?" said I.

"I think I like English best," said the girl, "it is the most useful
language."

"Not in Anglesey," said I.

"Well," said the girl, "it is the most genteel."

"Gentility," said I, "will be the ruin of Welsh, as it has been of many
other things--what have I to pay for the ale?"

"Three pence," said she.

I paid the money and the girl went out. I finished my ale, and getting
up made for the door; at the door I was met by Mr Hugh Pritchard, who
came out of the tap-room to thank me for my custom, and to bid me
farewell. I asked him whether I should have any difficulty in finding
the way to Llanfair.

"None whatever," said he, "you have only to pass over the bridge of the
Traeth, and to go due north for about four miles, and you will find
yourself in Llanfair."

"What kind of place is it?" said I.

"A poor straggling village," said Mr Pritchard.

"Shall I be able to obtain a lodging there for the night?" said I.

"Scarcely one such as you would like," said Hugh.

"And where had I best pass the night?" I demanded.

"We can accommodate you comfortably here," said Mr Pritchard, "provided
you have no objection to come back."

I told him that I should be only too happy, and forthwith departed, glad
at heart that I had secured a comfortable lodging for the night.

CHAPTER XXXII

Leave Pentraeth--Tranquil Scene--The Knoll--The Miller and his
Wife--Poetry of Gronwy--Kind Offer--Church of Llanfair--No
English--Confusion of Ideas--The Gronwy--Notable Little Girl--The
Sycamore Leaf--Home from California.

The village of Pentraeth Goch occupies two sides of a romantic dell--that
part of it which stands on the southern side, and which comprises the
church and the little