t.

"The greatest prydydd," said the latter, "the greatest prydydd that--"
and leaving his sentence incomplete he drank off the ale which he had
poured into his glass.

"Well," said I, "I cannot sufficiently congratulate myself for having met
an Anglesey bard--no doubt a graduate one. Anglesey, was always famous
for graduate bards, for what says Black Robin?

"'Though Arvon graduate bards can boast,
Yet more canst thou, O Anglesey.'"

"I suppose by graduate bard you mean one who has gained the chair at an
eisteddfod?" said the man in grey. "No, I have never gained the silver
chair--I have never had an opportunity. I have been kept out of the
eisteddfodau. There is such a thing as envy, sir--but there is one
comfort, that envy will not always prevail."

"No," said I; "envy will not always prevail--envious scoundrels may
chuckle for a time at the seemingly complete success of the dastardly
arts to which they have recourse, in order to crush merit--but Providence
is not asleep. All of a sudden they see their supposed victim on a
pinnacle far above their reach. Then there is weeping, and gnashing of
teeth with a vengeance, and the long, melancholy howl. Oh, there is
nothing in this world which gives one so perfect an idea of retribution
as the long melancholy howl of the disappointed envious scoundrel when he
sees his supposed victim smiling on an altitude far above his reach."

"Sir," said the man in grey, "I am delighted to hear you. Give me your
hand, your honourable hand. Sir, you have now felt the hand-grasp of a
Welshman, to say nothing of an Anglesey bard, and I have felt that of a
Briton, perhaps a bard, a brother, sir? Oh, when I first saw your face
out there in the dyffryn, I at once recognised in it that of a kindred
spirit, and I felt compelled to ask you to drink. Drink, sir! but how is
this? the jug is empty--how is this?--Oh, I see--my friend sir, though an
excellent individual, is indiscreet, sir--very indiscreet. Landlord,
bring this moment another jug of ale!"

"The greatest prydydd," stuttered he of bulged shoe--"the greatest
prydydd--Oh--"

"Tut, tut," said the man in grey.

"I speak the truth and care for no one," said he of the tattered hat. "I
say the greatest prydydd. If any one wishes to gainsay me let him show
his face and Myn Diawl--"

The landlord brought the ale, placed it on the table, and then stood as
if waiting for something.

"I suppose you are waiting to