thorough bred."

"I can scarcely tell you how it was, sir," said the man scratching his
head, "but I thought I would speak to you in Spanish."

"And why not English?" said I.

"Why, I heard you speaking Welsh," said the man; "and as for an
Englishman speaking Welsh--"

"But why not answer me in Welsh?" said I.

"Why, I saw it was not your language, sir," said the man, "and as I had
picked up some Spanish I thought it would be but fair to answer you in
it."

"But how did you know that I could speak Spanish?" said I.

"I don't know indeed, sir," said the man; "but I looked at you, and
something seemed to tell me that you could speak Spanish. I can't tell
you how it was sir," said he, looking me very innocently in the face,
"but I was forced to speak Spanish to you. I was indeed!"

"The long and the short of it was," said I, "that you took me for a
foreigner, and thought that it would be but polite to answer me in a
foreign language."

"I daresay it was so, sir," said the man. "I daresay it was just as you
say."

"How did you fare in California?" said I.

"Very fairly indeed, sir," said the man. "I made some money there, and
brought it home, and with part of it I am building this house."

"I am very happy to hear it," said I, "you are really a remarkable
man--few return from California speaking Spanish as you do, and still
fewer with money in their pockets."

The poor fellow looked pleased at what I said, more especially at that
part of the sentence which touched upon his speaking Spanish well.
Wishing him many years of health and happiness in the house he was
building, I left him, and proceeded on my path towards Pentraeth Goch.

After walking some way, I turned round in order to take a last look of
the place which had so much interest for me. The mill may be seen from a
considerable distance; so may some of the scattered houses, and also the
wood which surrounds the house of the illustrious Gronwy. Prosperity to
Llanfair! and may many a pilgrimage be made to it of the same character
as my own.

CHAPTER XXXIII

Boxing Harry--Mr Bos--Black Robin--Drovers--Commercial Travellers.

I arrived at the hostelry of Mr Pritchard without meeting any adventure
worthy of being marked down. I went into the little parlour, and,
ringing the bell, was presently waited upon by Mrs Pritchard, a nice
matronly woman, whom I had not before seen, of whom I inquired what I
could have for dinner.

"This is n