ttle and
others on chairs in the vicinity of the fire. As I advanced, a man arose
from a chair and came towards me. He was about thirty-five years of age,
well and strongly made, with a fresh complexion, a hawk nose, and a keen
grey eye. He wore top-boots and breeches, a half jockey coat, and had a
round cap made of the skin of some animal on his head.

"Servant, sir!" said he in rather a sharp tone, and surveying me with
something of a supercilious air.

"Your most obedient humble servant!" said I; "I presume you are the
landlord of this house."

"Landlord!" said he, "landlord! It is true I receive guests sometimes
into my house, but I do so solely with the view of accommodating them; I
do not depend upon innkeeping for a livelihood. I hire the principal
part of the land in this neighbourhood."

"If that be the case," said I, "I had better continue my way to the
Devil's Bridge; I am not at all tired, and I believe it is not very far
distant."

"Oh, as you are here," said the farmer-landlord, "I hope you will stay.
I should be very sorry if any gentleman should leave my house at night
after coming with an intention of staying, more especially in a night
like this. Martha!" said he, turning to a female between thirty and
forty--who I subsequently learned was the mistress--"prepare the parlour
instantly for this gentleman, and don't fail to make up a good fire."

Martha forthwith hurried away, attended by a much younger female.

"Till your room is prepared, sir," said he, "perhaps you will have no
objection to sit down before our fire?"

"Not the least," said I; "nothing gives me greater pleasure than to sit
before a kitchen fire. First of all, however, I must settle with my
guide, and likewise see that he has something to eat and drink."

"Shall I interpret for you?" said the landlord; "the lad has not a word
of English; I know him well."

"I have not been under his guidance for the last three hours," said I,
"without knowing that he cannot speak English; but I want no
interpreter."

"You do not mean to say, sir," said the landlord, with a surprised and
dissatisfied air, "that you understand Welsh?"

I made no answer, but turning to the guide thanked him for his kindness,
and giving him some money asked him if it was enough.

"More than enough, sir," said the lad; "I did not expect half as much.
Farewell!"

He was then about to depart, but I prevented him saying:

"You must not go till you have