et out the day before, in
order that I may enjoy myself upon the road. I feel myself so happy here
that I shall not stir till the evening. Now pray stay with me and my
friend till then."

"I cannot," said I, "if I stay longer here I shall never reach Caer Gybi
to-night. But allow me to ask whether your business at L--- will not
suffer by your spending so much time on the road to market?"

"My wife takes care of the business whilst I am away," said the man in
grey, "so it won't suffer much. Indeed it is she who chiefly conducts
the business of the inn. I spend a good deal of time from home, for
besides being a bard and inn-keeper, I must tell you I am a horse-dealer
and a jobber, and if I go to Bangor it is in the hope of purchasing a
horse or pig worth the money."

"And is your friend going to market too?" said I.

"My friend goes with me to assist me and bear me company. If I buy a pig
he will help me to drive it home; if a horse, he will get up upon its
back behind me. I might perhaps do without him, but I enjoy his company
highly. He is sometimes rather indiscreet, but I do assure you he is
exceedingly clever."

"The greatest prydydd," said the man of the bulged shoe, "the greatest
prydydd in the world."

"Oh, I have no doubt of his cleverness," said I, "from what I have
observed of him. Now before I go allow me to pay for your next jug of
ale."

"I will do no such thing," said the man in grey. "No farthing do you pay
here for me or my friend either. But I will tell you what you may do. I
am, as I have told you, an inn-keeper as well as a bard. By the time you
get to L--- you will be hot and hungry and in need of refreshment, and if
you think proper to patronise my house, the --- Arms, by taking your chop
and pint there, you will oblige me. Landlord, some more ale."

"The greatest prydydd," said he of the bulged shoe, "the greatest
prydydd--"

"I will most certainly patronise your house," said I to the man in grey,
and shaking him heartily by the hand I departed.

CHAPTER XXXVIII

Inn at L-----The Handmaid--The Decanter--Religious Gentleman--Truly
Distressing--Sententiousness--Way to Pay Bills.

I proceeded on my way in high spirits indeed, having now seen not only
the tomb of the Tudors, but one of those sober poets for which Anglesey
has always been so famous. The country was pretty, with here and there a
hill, a harvest-field, a clump of trees or a grove.

I soon reached L--