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第76章

wild wales-第76章

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freckled maid whom I saw at the bar; and whom I told that I was 
come to pass the night at the inn。  The room presented an agreeable 
contrast to the gloomy; desolate places through which I had lately 
come。  A good fire blazed in the grate; and there were four lights 
on the table。  Lolling in a chair by one side of the fire was an 
individual at the sight of whom I almost started。  He was an 
immense man; weighing I should say at least eighteen stone; with 
brown hair; thinnish whiskers; half…ruddy; half…tallowy complexion; 
and dressed in a brown sporting coat; drab breeches; and yellow…
topped boots … in every respect the exact image of the 
Wolverhampton gent or hog…merchant who had appeared to me in my 
dream at Llangollen; whilst asleep before the fire。  Yes; the very 
counterpart of that same gent looked this enormous fellow; save and 
except that he did not appear to be more than seven or eight and 
twenty; whereas the hog…merchant looked at least fifty。  Laying my 
satchel down I took a seat and ordered the maid to get some dinner 
for me; and then asked what had become of the waiter; Tom Jenkins。

〃He is not here at present; sir;〃 said the freckled maid; 〃he is at 
his own house。〃

〃And why is he not here?〃 said I。

〃Because he is not wanted; sir; he only comes in summer when the 
house is full of people。〃

And having said this the little freckled damsel left the room。

〃Reither a cool night; sir!〃 said the enormous man after we had 
been alone together a few minutes。

I again almost started; for he spoke with the same kind of half…
piping; half…wheezing voice; with which methought the Wolverhampton 
gent had spoken to me in my dream。

〃Yes;〃 said I; 〃it is rather cold out abroad; but I don't care as I 
am not going any farther to…night。〃

〃That's not my case;〃 said the stout man; 〃I have got to go ten 
miles; as far as Cerrig Drudion; from which place I came this 
afternoon in a wehicle。〃

〃Do you reside at Cerrig Drudion?〃 said I。

〃No;〃 said the stout man; whose dialect I shall not attempt further 
to imitate; 〃but I have been staying there some time; for happening 
to go there a month or two ago I was tempted to take up my quarters 
at the inn。  A very nice inn it is; and the landlady a very 
agreeable woman; and her daughters very agreeable young ladies。〃

〃Is this the first time you have been at Bala?〃

〃Yes; the first time。  I had heard a good deal about it; and wished 
to see it。  So to…day; having the offer of a vehicle at a cheap 
rate; I came over with two or three other gents; amongst whom is 
Doctor Jones。〃

〃Dear me〃 said I; 〃is Doctor Jones in Bala?〃

〃Yes;〃 said the stout man。  〃Do you know him?〃

〃Oh yes;〃 said I; 〃and have a great respect for him; his like for 
politeness and general learning is scarcely to be found in 
Britain。〃

〃Only think;〃 said the stout man。  〃Well; I never heard that of him 
before。〃

Wishing to see my sleeping room before I got my dinner; I now rose 
and was making for the door; when it opened; and in came Doctor 
Jones。  He had a muffler round his neck; and walked rather slowly 
and disconsolately; leaning upon a cane。  He passed without 
appearing to recognise me; and I; thinking it would be as well to 
defer claiming acquaintance with him till I had put myself a little 
to rights; went out without saying anything to him。  I was shown by 
the freckled maid to a nice sleeping apartment; where I stayed some 
time adjusting myself。  On my return to the coffee…room I found the 
doctor sitting near the fire…place。  The stout man had left the 
room。  I had no doubt that he had told Doctor Jones that I had 
claimed acquaintance with him; and that the doctor; not having 
recollected me; had denied that he knew anything of me; for I 
observed that he looked at me very suspiciously。

I took my former seat; and after a minute's silence said to Doctor 
Jones; 〃I think; sir; I had the pleasure of seeing you some time 
ago at Cerrig Drudion?〃

〃It's possible; sir;〃 said Doctor Jones in a tone of considerable 
hauteur; and tossing his head so that the end of his chin was above 
his comforter; 〃but I have no recollection of it。〃

I held my head down for a little time; then raising it and likewise 
my forefinger; I looked Doctor Jones full in the face and said; 
〃Don't you remember talking to me about Owen Pugh and Coll Gwynfa?〃

〃Yes; I do;〃 said Doctor Jones in a very low voice; like that of a 
person who deliberates; 〃yes; I do。  I remember you perfectly; 
sir;〃 he added almost immediately in a tone of some animation; 〃you 
are the gentleman with whom I had a very interesting conversation 
one evening last summer in the bar of the inn at Cerrig Drudion。  I 
regretted very much that our conversation was rather brief; but I 
was called away to attend to a case; a professional case; sir; of 
some delicacy; and I have since particularly regretted that I was 
unable to return that night; as it would have given me much 
pleasure to have been present at a dialogue; which I have been told 
by my friend the landlady; you held with a certain Italian who was 
staying at the house; which was highly agreeable and instructive to 
herself and her daughter。〃

〃Well;〃 said I; 〃I am rejoiced that fate has brought us together 
again。  How have you been in health since I had the pleasure of 
seeing you?〃

〃Rather indifferent; sir; rather indifferent。  I have of late been 
afflicted with several ailments; the original cause of which; I 
believe; was a residence of several years in the Ynysoedd y 
Gorllewin … the West India Islands … where I had the honour of 
serving her present gracious Majesty's gracious uncle; George the 
Fourth … in a medical capacity; sir。  I have likewise been 
afflicted with lowness of spirits; sir。  It was this same lowness 
of spirits which induced me to accept an invitation made by the 
individual lately in the room to accompany him in a vehicle with 
some other people to Bala。  I shall always consider my coming as a 
fortunate circumstance; inasmuch as it has given me an opportunity 
of renewing my acquaintance with you。〃

〃Pray;〃 said I; 〃may I take the liberty of asking who that 
individual is?〃

〃Why;〃 said Doctor Jones; 〃he is what they call a Wolverhampton 
gent。〃

〃A Wolverhampton gent;〃 said I to myself; 〃only think!〃

〃Were you pleased to make any observation; sir?〃 said the doctor。

〃I was merely saying something to myself;〃 said I。  〃And in what 
line of business may he be?  I suppose in the hog line。〃

〃Oh no!〃 said Doctor Jones。  〃His father; it is true; is a hog…
merchant; but as for himself he follows no business; he is what is 
called a fast young man; and goes about here and there on the 
spree; as I think they term it; drawing; whenever he wants money; 
upon his father; who is in affluent circumstances。  Some time ago 
he came to Cerrig Drudion; and was so much pleased with the place; 
the landlady; and her daughters; that he has made it his 
headquarters ever since。  Being frequently at the house I formed an 
acquaintance with him; and have occasionally made one in his 
parties and excursions; though I can't say I derive much pleasure 
from his conversation; for he is a person of little or no 
literature。〃

〃The son of a hog…merchant;〃 thought I to myself。  〃Depend upon it; 
that immense fellow whom I saw in my dream purchase the big hog at 
Llangollen fair; and who wanted me to give him a poond for his 
bargain; was this gent's father。  Oh; there is much more in dreams 
than is generally dreamt of by philosophy!〃

Doctor Jones presently began to talk of Welsh literature; and we 
were busily engaged in discussing the subject when in walked the 
fast young man; causing the floor to quake beneath his ponderous 
tread。  He looked rather surprised at seeing the doctor and me 
conversing; but Doctor Jones turning to him; said; 〃Oh; I remember 
this gentleman perfectly。〃

〃Oh!〃 said the fast young man; 〃very good!〃 then flinging himself 
down in a chair with a force that nearly broke it; and fixing his 
eyes upon me; said; 〃I think I remember the gentleman too。  If I am 
not much mistaken; sir; you are one of our principal engineers at 
Wolverhampton。  Oh yes!  I remember you now perfectly。  The last 
time I saw you was at a public dinner given to you at 
Wolverhampton; and there you made a speech; and a capital speech it 
was。〃

Just as I was about to reply Doctor Jones commenced speaking Welsh; 
resuming the discourse on Welsh literature。  Before; however; he 
had uttered a dozen words he was interrupted by the Wolverhampton 
gent; who exclaimed in a blubbering tone:  〃O Lord; you are surely 
not going to speak Welsh。  If I had thought I was to be bothered 
with Welsh I wouldn't have asked you to come。〃

〃If I spoke Welsh; sir;〃 said the doctor; 〃it was out of compliment 
to this gentleman; who is a proficient in the ancient language of 
my country。  As; however; you dislike Welsh; I shall carry on the 
conversation with him in English; though peradventure you may not 
be more edified by it in that language than if it were held in 
Welsh。〃

He then proceeded to make some very excellent remarks on the 
history of the Gwedir family; written by Sir John Wynn; to which 
the Wolverhampton gent listened with open mouth and staring eyes。  
My dinner now made its appearance; brought in by the little 
freckled maid … the cloth had been laid during my absence from the 
room。  I had just begun to handle my knife and fork; Doctor Jones 
still continuing his observations on the history of the Gwedir 
family; when I heard a carriage drive up to the inn; and almost 
immediately after; two or three young fellows rollicked into the 
room:  〃Come let's be off;〃 said one of them to the Wolverhampton 
gent; 〃the carriage is ready。〃  〃I'm glad of it;〃 said the fast 
young man; 〃for it's rather slow work here。  Come; doctor! are you 
going with us or do you intend to stay here all night?〃  Thereupon 
the doctor got up; and coming towards me leaning on his cane; said:  
〃Sir! it gives me infinite pleasure that I have met a second time a 
gentleman of so much literature。  That we shall ever meet a third 
time I may wish but can scarcely hope; owing to certain ailments 
under which I suffer; brought on; sir; by a residence of many years 
in the Occidental Indies。  However; at all events; I wish you 
health and happiness。〃  He then shook me gently by the hand and 
departed with the Wolverhampton gent and his companions; the gent 
as he stumped out of the room saying; 〃Good…night; sir; I hope it 
will not be long before I see you at another public dinner at 
Wolverhampton; and hear another speech from you as good as the 
last。〃  In a minute or two I heard them drive off。  Left to myself 
I began to discuss my dinner。  Of the dinner I had nothing to 
complain; but the ale which accompanied it was very bad。  This was 
the more mortifying; for; remembering the excellent ale I had drunk 
at Bala some months previously; I had; as I came along the gloomy 
roads the present evening; been promising myself a delicious treat 
on my arrival。

〃This is very bad ale!〃 said I to the freckled maid; 〃very 
dif

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