第17章

"HaveyouanyWelsh？"IshoutedasloudasIcouldbawl。

Themanstopped，andturningadarksullencountenancehalfuponmesaid，"Yes，IhaveWelsh。"

"WhichisthewaytoLlanfair？"saidI。

"Llanfair，Llanfair？"saidtheman，"whatdoyoumean？"

"Iwanttogetthere，"saidI。

"Areyounottherealready？"saidthefellowstampingontheground，"areyounotinLlanfair？

"Yes，butIwanttogettothetown。"

"Town，town！Oh，IhavenoEnglish，"saidtheman；andoffhestartedlikeafrightedbullock。ThepoorfellowwasprobablyatfirstterrifiedatseeinganEnglishman，thenconfusedathearinganEnglishmanspeakWelsh，alanguagewhichtheWelshingeneralimaginenoEnglishmancanspeak，thetongueofanEnglishmanastheysaynotbeinglongenoughtopronounceWelsh；andlastlyutterlydeprivedofwhatreasoningfacultieshehadstillremainingbymyaskinghimforthetownofLlanfair，therebeingproperlynotown。

Iwenton，andatlastgettingoutofthelane，foundmyselfupontheroad，alongwhichIhadcomeabouttwohoursbefore；thehouseofthemillerwasatsomedistanceonmyright。Nearmeweretwoorthreehousesandpartoftheskeletonofone，onwhichsomemen，inthedressofmasons，seemedtobeoccupied。GoinguptothesemenIsaidinWelshtoone，whomIjudgedtobetheprincipal，andwhowasratheratallfine—lookingfellow：

"HaveyouheardasoundofGronwyOwain？"

Hereoccurredanotherinstanceofthestrangethingspeopledowhentheirideasareconfused。Themanstoodforamomentortwo，asiftransfixed，atrowelmotionlessinoneofhishands，andabrickintheother；atlastgivingakindofgasp，heansweredinverytolerableSpanish：

"Si，senor！heoido。"

"Ishishousefarfromhere？"saidIinWelsh。

"No，senor！"saidtheman，"noestamuylejos。"

"Iamastrangerhere，friend，cananybodyshowmetheway？"

"Sisenor！estemozoluego—acompanarausted。"

Thenturningtoaladofabouteighteen，alsodressedasamason，hesaidinWelsh：

"ShowthisgentlemaninstantlythewaytoTafarnGoch。"

Theladflingingahoddown，whichhehadonhisshoulder，instantlysetoff，makingmeamotionwithhisheadtofollowhim。

Ididso，wonderingwhatthemancouldmeanbyspeakingtomeinSpanish。Theladwalkedbymysideinsilenceforabouttwofurlongstillwecametoarangeoftrees，seeminglysycamores，behindwhichwasalittlegarden，inwhichstoodalonglowhousewiththreechimneys。Theladstoppingflungopenagatewhichledintothegarden，thencryingtoachildwhichhesawwithin："Gadroitro"—letthemantakeaturn；hewasabouttoleaveme，whenIstoppedhimtoputsixpenceintohishand。Hereceivedthemoneywithagruff"Diolch！"andinstantlysetoffataquickpace。

Passingthechildwhostaredatme，Iwalkedtothebackpartofthehouse，whichseemedtobealongmudcottage。AfterexaminingthebackpartIwentinfront，whereIsawanagedwomanwithseveralchildren，oneofwhomwasthechildIhadfirstseen。ShesmiledandaskedmewhatIwanted。

IsaidthatIhadcometoseethehouseofGronwy。Shedidnotunderstandme，forshakingherheadshesaidthatshehadnoEnglish，andwasratherdeaf。RaisingmyvoicetoaveryhightoneIsaid：

"TyGronwy！"

Agleamofintelligenceflashednowinhereyes。

"TyGronwy，"shesaid，"ah！Iunderstand。Comeinsir。"

Therewerethreedoorstothehouse；sheledmeinbythemidmostintoacommoncottageroom，withnootherceiling，seemingly，thantheroof。Shebademesitdownbythewindowbyalittletable，andaskedmewhetherIwouldhaveacupofmilkandsomebread—and—

butter；Ideclinedboth，butsaidIshouldbethankfulforalittlewater。

Thisshepresentlybroughtmeinateacup，Idrankit，thechildrenamountingtofivestandingalittlewayfrommestaringatme。I

askedherifthiswasthehouseinwhichGronwywasborn。Shesaiditwas，butthatithadbeenalteredverymuchsincehistime—

thatthreefamilieshadlivedinit，butthatshebelievedhewasbornaboutwherewewerenow。

Amannowcominginwholivedatthenextdoor，shesaidIhadbetterspeaktohimandtellhimwhatIwantedtoknow，whichhecouldthencommunicatetoher，asshecouldunderstandhiswayofspeakingmuchbetterthanmine。ThroughthemanIaskedherwhethertherewasanyoneofthebloodofGronwyOwenlivinginthehouse。Shepointedtothechildrenandsaidtheyhadallsomeofhisblood。IaskedinwhatrelationshiptheystoodtoGronwy。Shesaidshecouldhardlytell，thattripriodas，threemarriagesstoodbetween，andthattherelationshipwasonthemother’sside。I

gatheredfromherthatthechildrenhadlosttheirmother，thattheirnamewasJones，andthattheirfatherwasherson。Iaskedifthehouseinwhichtheylivedwastheirown；shesaidno，thatitbelongedtoamanwholivedatsomedistance。Iaskedifthechildrenwerepoor。

"Very，"saidshe。

Igavethemeachatrifle，andthepooroldladythankedmewithtearsinhereyes。

Iaskedwhetherthechildrencouldread；shesaidtheyallcould，withtheexceptionofthetwoyoungest。Theeldestshesaidcouldreadanything，whetherWelshorEnglish；shethentookfromthewindow—sillabook，whichsheputintomyhand，sayingthechildcouldreaditandunderstandit。Iopenedthebook；itwasanEnglishschool—booktreatingonallthesciences。

"Canyouwrite？"saidItothechild，alittlestubbygirlofabouteight，withabroadflatredfaceandgreyeyes，dressedinachintzgown，alittlebonnetonherhead，andlookingtheimageofnotableness。

Thelittlemaiden，whohadnevertakenhereyesoffofmeforamomentduringthewholetimeIhadbeenintheroom，atfirstmadenoanswer；being，however，bidbyhergrandmothertospeak，sheatlengthansweredinasoftvoice，"Medraf，Ican。"

"Thenwriteyournameinthisbook，"saidI，takingoutapocket—

bookandapencil，"andwritelikewisethatyouarerelatedtoGronwyOwen—andbesureyouwriteinWelsh。"

Thelittlemaidenverydemurelytookthebookandpencil，andplacingtheformeronthetablewroteasfollows：

"EllenJonesynperthynobelligronowowen。"

Thatis，"EllenJonesbelongingfromafartoGronwyOwen。"

WhenIsawthenameofEllenIhadnodoubtthatthechildrenwererelatedtotheillustriousGronwy。EllenisaveryuncommonWelshname，butitseemstohavebeenafamilynameoftheOwens；itwasbornebyaninfantdaughterofthepoetwhomhetenderlyloved，andwhodiedwhilsthewastoilingatWaltoninCheshire，—

"Ellen，mydarling，WholiestintheChurchyardatWalton。"

sayspoorGronwyinoneofthemostaffectingelegieseverwritten。

AfteralittlefartherconversationIbadethefamilyfarewellandleftthehouse。AftergoingdowntheroadahundredyardsIturnedbackinordertoaskpermissiontogatheraleaffromoneofthesycamores。Seeingthemanwhohadhelpedmeinmyconversationwiththeoldwomanstandingatthegate，ItoldhimwhatIwanted，whereuponheinstantlytoredownahandfulofleavesandgavethemtome。Thrustingthemintomycoat—pocketIthankedhimkindlyanddeparted。

Comingtothehalf—erectedhouse，IagainsawthemantowhomIhadaddressedmyselfforinformation。Istopped，andspeakingSpanishtohim，askedhowhehadacquiredtheSpanishlanguage。

"IhavebeeninChili，sir，"saidheinthesametongue，"andinCalifornia，andinthoseplacesIlearnedSpanish。"

"WhatdidyougotoChilifor？"saidI；"IneednotaskyouonwhataccountyouwenttoCalifornia。"

"Iwentthereasamariner，"saidtheman；"IsailedoutofLiverpoolforChili。"

"Andhowisit，"saidI，"thatbeingamarinerandsailinginaLiverpoolshipyoudonotspeakEnglish？"

"IspeakEnglish，senor，"saidtheman，"perfectlywell。"

"Thenhowinthenameofwonder，"saidI，speakingEnglish，"cameyoutoanswermeinSpanish？IamanEnglishmanthoroughbred。"

"Icanscarcelytellyouhowitwas，sir，"saidthemanscratchinghishead，"butIthoughtIwouldspeaktoyouinSpanish。"

"AndwhynotEnglish？"saidI。

"Why，IheardyouspeakingWelsh，"saidtheman；"andasforanEnglishmanspeakingWelsh—"

"ButwhynotanswermeinWelsh？"saidI。

"Why，Isawitwasnotyourlanguage，sir，"saidtheman，"andasI

hadpickedupsomeSpanishIthoughtitwouldbebutfairtoansweryouinit。"

"ButhowdidyouknowthatIcouldspeakSpanish？"saidI。

"Idon’tknowindeed，sir，"saidtheman；"butIlookedatyou，andsomethingseemedtotellmethatyoucouldspeakSpanish。Ican’ttellyouhowitwassir，"saidhe，lookingmeveryinnocentlyintheface，"butIwasforcedtospeakSpanishtoyou。Iwasindeed！"

"Thelongandtheshortofitwas，"saidI，"thatyoutookmeforaforeigner，andthoughtthatitwouldbebutpolitetoanswermeinaforeignlanguage。"

"Idaresayitwasso，sir，"saidtheman。"Idaresayitwasjustasyousay。"

"HowdidyoufareinCalifornia？"saidI。

"Veryfairlyindeed，sir，"saidtheman。"Imadesomemoneythere，andbroughtithome，andwithpartofitIambuildingthishouse。"

"Iamveryhappytohearit，"saidI，"youarereallyaremarkableman—fewreturnfromCaliforniaspeakingSpanishasyoudo，andstillfewerwithmoneyintheirpockets。"

ThepoorfellowlookedpleasedatwhatIsaid，moreespeciallyatthatpartofthesentencewhichtoucheduponhisspeakingSpanishwell。Wishinghimmanyyearsofhealthandhappinessinthehousehewasbuilding，Ilefthim，andproceededonmypathtowardsPentraethGoch。

Afterwalkingsomeway，Iturnedroundinordertotakealastlookoftheplacewhichhadsomuchinterestforme。Themillmaybeseenfromaconsiderabledistance；somaysomeofthescatteredhouses，andalsothewoodwhichsurroundsthehouseoftheillustriousGronwy。ProsperitytoLlanfair！andmaymanyapilgrimagebemadetoitofthesamecharacterasmyown。

CHAPTERXXXIII

BoxingHarry—MrBos—BlackRobin—Drovers—CommercialTravellers。

IARRIVEDatthehostelryofMrPritchardwithoutmeetinganyadventureworthyofbeingmarkeddown。Iwentintothelittleparlour，and，ringingthebell，waspresentlywaiteduponbyMrsPritchard，anicematronlywoman，whomIhadnotbeforeseen，ofwhomIinquiredwhatIcouldhavefordinner。

"Thisisnogreatplaceformeat，"saidMrsPritchard，"thatisfreshmeat，forsometimesafortnightpasseswithoutanythingbeingkilledintheneighbourhood。Iamafraidatpresentthereisnotabitoffreshmeattobehad。WhatwecangetyoufordinnerIdonotknow，unlessyouarewillingtomakeshiftwithbaconandeggs。"

"I’lltellyouwhatI’lldo，"saidI，"Iwillhavethebaconandeggswithteaandbread—and—butter，notforgettingapintofale—

inaword，IwillboxHarry。"

"Isupposeyouareacommercialgent，"saidMrsPritchard。

"Whydoyousupposemeacommercialgent？"saidI。"DoIlookone？"

"Can’tsayyoudomuch，"saidMrsPritchard；"youhavenoringsonyourfingers，noragiltchainatyourwaistcoat—pocket，butwhenyousaid’boxHarry，’Inaturallytookyoutobeoneofthecommercialgents，forwhenIwasatLiverpoolIwastoldthatthatwasawordoftheirs。"

"Ibelievethewordproperlybelongstothem，"saidI。"Iamnotoneofthem；butIlearntitfromthem，agreatmanyyearsago，whenIwasmuchamongstthem。Thosewhoseemployerswereinasmallwayofbusiness，orallowedtheminsufficientsalaries，frequentlyusedto’boxHarry，’thatis，haveabeaf—steak，ormutton—chop，orperhapsbaconandeggs，asIamgoingtohave，alongwithteaandale，insteadoftheregulardinnerofacommercialgentleman，namely，fish，hotjoint，andfowl，pintofsherry，tart，aleandcheese，andbottleofoldport，attheendofall。"

Havingmadearrangementsfor"boxingHarry"Iwentintothetap—

room，fromwhichIhadheardthevoiceofMrPritchardproceedingduringthewholeofmyconversationwithhiswife。HereIfoundtheworthylandlordseatedwithasinglecustomer；bothweresmoking。Thecustomerinstantlyarrestedmyattention。Hewasaman，seeminglyaboutfortyyearsofagewithabroadredface，withcertainsomethings，lookingverymuchlikeincipientcarbuncles，hereandthere，uponit。Hiseyesweregreyandlookedratherasiftheysquinted；hismouthwasverywide，andwhenitopeneddisplayedasetofstrong，white，uneventeeth。Hewasdressedinapepper—and—saltcoatoftheNewmarketcut，breechesofcorduroyandbrowntopboots，andhadonhisheadabroad，black，coarse，low—crownedhat。Inhislefthandheheldaheavywhale—bonewhipwithabrasshead。Isatdownonabenchnearlyoppositetohimandthelandlord。

"Well，"saidMrPritchard；"didyoufindyourwaytoLlanfair？"

"Yes，"saidI。

"Anddidyouexecutethebusinesssatisfactorilywhichledyouthere？"saidMrPritchard。

"Perfectly，"saidI。

"Well，whatdidyougiveastoneforyourlivepork？"saidhiscompanionglancingupatme，andspeakinginagruffvoice。

"Ididnotbuyanylivepork，"saidI；"doyoutakemeforapig—

jobber？"

"Ofcourse，"saidtheman，inpepper—and—salt；"whobutapigjobbercouldhavebusinessatLlanfair？"

"DoesLlanfairproducenothingbutpigs？"saidI。

"Nothingatall，"saidthemaninthepepper—and—salt，"thatis，nothingworthmentioning。Youwouldn’tgothereforrunts，thatis，ifyouwereinyourrightsenses；ifyouwereinwantofruntsyouwouldhavegonetomyparishandhaveappliedtome，MrBos；

thatisifyouwereinyoursenses。Wouldn’the，JohnPritchard？"

MrPritchardthusappealedtotookthepipeoutofhismouth，andwithsomehesitationssaidthathebelievedthegentlemanneitherwenttoLlanfairforpigsnorblackcattlebutuponsomeparticularbusiness。

"Well，"saidMrBos，"itmaybeso，butIcan’tconceivehowanyperson，eithergentleorsimple，couldhaveanybusinessinAngleseysavethatbusinesswaspigsorcattle。"

"Thetruthis，"saidI，"IwenttoLlanfairtoseethebirth—placeofagreatman—thecleverestAngleseyeverproduced。"

"Thenyouwentwrong，"saidMrBos，"youwenttothewrongparish，youshouldhavegonetoPenmynnydd；theclebbermanofAngleseywasbornandburiedatPenmynnydd，youmayseehistombinthechurch。"

"YouarealludingtoBlackRobin，"saidI，"whowrotetheodeinpraiseofAnglesey—yes，hewasaverycleveryoungfellow，butexcuseme，hewasnothalfsuchapoetasGronwyOwen。"

"BlackRobin，"saidMrBos，"andGronowOwen，whotheDevilwerethey？Ineverheardofeither。Iwasn’ttalkingofthem，butoftheclebberestmantheworldeversaw。DidyouneverhearofOwenTiddir？Ifyoudidn’t，wheredidyougetyoureducation？"

"IhaveheardofOwenTudor，"saidI，"butneverunderstoodthathewasparticularlyclever；handsomeheundoubtedlywas—butclever—

"

"Hownotclebber？"interruptedMrBos。"Ifhewasn’tclebber，whowasclebber？Didn’themarryagreatqueen，andwasnotHarrytheEighthhisgreatgrandson？"

"Really，"saidI，"youknowagreatdealofhistory。"

"IshouldhopeIdo，"saidMrBos。"Oh，Iwasn’tatschoolatBlewmarisforsixmonthsfornothing；andIhaven’tbeeninNorthampton，andineverytowninEngland，withoutlearningsomethingofhistory。WithregardtohistoryImaysaythatfew—

Won’tyoudrink？"saidhe，patronizingly，ashepushedajugofalewhichstoodbeforehimonalittletabletowardsme。

BeggingpolitelytobeexcusedonthepleathatIwasjustabouttotaketea，IaskedhiminwhatcapacityhehadtravelledalloverEngland。

"Asadrovertobesure，"saidMrBos，"andImaysaythattherearenotmanyinAngleseybetterknowninEnglandthanmyself—atanyrateImaysaythatthereisnotapublic—housebetweenhereandWorcesteratwhichIamnotknown。"

"Prayexcuseme，"saidI，"butisnotdrovingratheralow—lifedoccupation？"

"Nothalfsomuchaspig—jobbing，"saidBos，"andthatthat’syourtradeIamcertain，oryouwouldneverhavegonetoLlanfair。"

"Iamnopig—jobber，"saidI，"andwhenIaskedyouthatquestionaboutdroving，ImerelydidsobecauseoneEllisWynn，inabookhewrote，givesthedroversaverybadcharacter，andputstheminHellfortheirmal—practices。"

"Oh，hedoes，"saidMrBos，"well，thenexttimeImeethimatCorwenI’llcrackhisheadforsayingso。Mal—practices—hehadbetterlookathisown，forheisapig—jobbertoo。Writtenabookhashe？thenIsupposehehasbeenleftalegacy，andgonetoschoolaftermiddle—age，forwhenIlastsawhim，whichisfouryearsago，hecouldneitherreadnorwrite。"

IwasabouttotellMrBosthattheEllisWynnthatImeantwasnomoreapig—jobberthanmyself，butarespectableclergyman，whohadbeendeadconsiderablyupwardsofahundredyears，andthatalso，notwithstandingmyrespectforMrBos’sknowledgeofhistory，IdidnotbelievethatOwenTudorwasburiedatPenmynnydd，whenIwaspreventedbytheentranceofMrsPritchard，whocametoinformmethatmyrepastwasreadyintheotherroom，whereuponIgotupandwentintotheparlourto"boxHarry。"

Havingdispatchedmybaconandeggs，teaandale，Ifellintodeepmeditation。Mymindrevertedtoalongpastperiodofmylife，whenIwastoacertainextentfixedupwithcommercialtravellers，andhadplentyofopportunitiesofobservingtheirhabits，andthetermsemployedbytheminconversation。Icalledupseveralindividualsofthetwoclassesintowhichtheyusedtobedivided，forcommercialtravellersinmytimeweredividedintotwoclasses，thosewhoatedinnersanddranktheirbottleofport，andthosewho"boxedHarry。"Whatgloriousfellowsthefirstseemed！Whatairstheygavethemselves！Whatoathstheyswore！andwhatinfluencetheyhadwithhostlersandchambermaids！andwhatasneaking—

lookingsettheotherswere！shabbyintheirapparel；nofineferocityintheircountenances；nooathsintheirmouths，exceptsuchatrumperyapologyforanoathasanoccasional"confoundedhard；"withlittleornoinfluenceatinns，scowledatbyhostlers，andneversmiledatbychambermaids—andthenIrememberedhowoftenIhadbotheredmyheadinvaintoaccountfortheoriginoftheterm"boxHarry，"andhowoftenIhadinvainappliedbothtothosewhodidboxandtothosewhodidnot"boxHarry，"foraclearandsatisfactoryelucidationoftheexpression—andatlastfoundmyselfagainbotheringmyheadasofoldinavainattempttoaccountfortheoriginoftheterm"boxingHarry。"

CHAPTERXXXIV

Northampton—Horse—Breaking—Snoring。

TIREDatlengthwithmyvaineffortstoaccountforthetermwhichinmytimewassomuchinvogueamongstcommercialgentlemenIleftthelittleparlour，andrepairedtothecommonroom。MrPritchardandMrBoswerestilltheresmokinganddrinking，buttherewasnowacandleonthetablebeforethem，fornightwasfastcomingon。

MrBoswasgivinganaccountofhistravelsinEngland，sometimesinWelsh，sometimesinEnglish，towhichMrPritchardwaslisteningwiththegreatestattention，occasionallyputtingina"seetherenow，"and"whatafinethingitistohavegoneabout。"AftersometimeMrBosexclaimed：

"Ithink，uponthewhole，ofalltheplacesIhaveseeninEnglandIlikeNorthamptonbest。"

"Isuppose，"saidI，"youfoundthemenofNorthamptongood—

tempered，jovialfellows？"

"Can’tsayIdid，"saidMrBos；"theyareallshoe—makers，andofcoursequarrelsomeandcontradictory，forwherewasthereeverashoemakerwhowasnotconceitedandeasilyriled？No，IhavelittletosayinfavourofNorthamptonasfarasthemenareconcerned。It’snotthemenbutthewomenthatmakemespeakinpraiseofNorthampton。Themenallareill—tempered，butthewomenquitethecontrary。IneversawsuchaplaceformerchedanladdasNorthampton。Iwasagreatfavouritewiththem，andcouldtellyousuchtales。"

AndthenMrBos，puttinghishatratherononesideofhishead，toldustwoorthreetalesofhisadventureswiththemerchedanladdofNorthampton，whichbroughtpowerfullytomymindpartofwhatEllisWynnhadsaidwithrespecttothepracticesofdroversinhisday，detestationforwhichhadinducedhimtoputthewholetribeintoHell。

AllofasuddenIheardagallopingdowntheroad，andpresentlyamightyplunging，seeminglyofahorse，beforethedooroftheinn。

Irushedoutfollowedbymycompanions，andlo，ontheopenspacebeforetheinnwasayounghorse，rearingandkicking，withayoungmanonhisback。Thehorsehadneitherbridlenorsaddle，andtheyoungfellowmerelyrodehimwitharopepassedabouthishead—

presentlythehorsebecametolerablyquiet，andhisriderjumpingoffledhimintothestable，wherehemadehimfasttotherackandthencameandjoinedus，whereuponweallwentintotheroomfromwhichIandtheothershadcomeonhearingthenoiseofthestruggle。

"Howcameyouonthecolt’sback，Jenkins？"saidMrPritchard，afterwehadallsatdownandJenkinshadcalledforsomecwrw。"I

didnotknowthathewasbrokein。"

"Iambreakinghiminmyself，"saidJenkinsspeakingWelsh。"I

beganwithhimto—night。"

"Doyoumeantosay，"saidI，"thatyouhavebegunbreakinghiminbymountinghisback？"

"Ido，"saidtheother。

"Thendependuponit，"saidI，"thatitwillnotbelongbeforehewilleitherbreakhisneckorkneesorhewillbreakyourneckorcrown。Youarenotgoingtherightwaytowork。"

"Oh，mynDiawl！"saidJenkins，"Iknowbetter。InadayortwoI

shallhavemadehimquitetame，andhavegothimintoexcellentpacesandshallhavesavedthemoneyImusthavepaidaway，hadI

puthimintoajockey’shands。"

Timepassed，nightcameon，andotherguestscamein。Therewasmuchtalkingoffirst—rateWelshandveryindifferentEnglish，MrBosbeingtheprincipalspeakerinbothlanguages；hisdiscoursewaschieflyonthecomparativemeritsofAngleseyruntsandScotchbullocks，andthoseofthemerchedanladdofNorthamptonandthelassesofWrexham。HepreferredhisowncountryruntstotheScotchkine，butsaiduponthewhole，thoughaWelshman，hemustgivethepreferencetothemerchedofNorthamptonoverthoseofWrexham，forfreeandeasydemeanour，notwithstandingthatinthatpointwhichhesaidwasthemostdesirablepointinfemales，thelassesofWrexhamweregenerallyconsideredout—and—outers。

FondasIamoflisteningtopublic—houseconversation，fromwhichIgenerallycontrivetoextractbothamusementandedification，I

becamerathertiredofthis，andgettingup，strolledaboutthelittlevillagebymoonlighttillIfeltdisposedtoretiretorest，whenreturningtotheinn，IbeggedtobeshowntheroominwhichI

wastosleep。MrsPritchardforthwithtakingacandleconductedmetoasmallroomupstairs。Thereweretwobedsinit。Thegoodladypointingtoone，nextthewindow，inwhichtherewerenicecleansheets，toldmethatwastheonewhichIwastooccupy，andbiddingmegood—night，andleavingthecandle，departed。PuttingoutthelightIgotintobed，butinstantlyfoundthatthebedwasnotlongenoughbyatleastafoot。"Ishallpassanuncomfortablenight，"saidI，"forIneveryetcouldsleepcomfortablyinabedtooshort。However，asIamonmytravels，Imustendeavourtoaccommodatemyselftocircumstances。"SoIendeavouredtocomposemyselftosleep；before，however，Icouldsucceed，Iheardthesoundofstumpingstepscomingupstairs，andperceivedabeamoflightthroughthecrevicesofthedoor，andinamomentmorethedooropenedandincametwoloutishfarmingladswhomIhadobservedbelow，oneofthembearingarushlightstuckintoanoldblacking—bottle。Withoutsayingawordtheyflungoffpartoftheirclothes，andoneofthemhavingblownouttherushlight，theybothtumbledintobed，andinamomentweresnoringmostsonorously。"Iaminashortbed，"saidI，"andhavesnorersclosebyme；IfearIshallhaveasorrynightofit。"Idetermined，however，toadheretomyresolutionofmakingthebestofcircumstances，andlayperfectlyquiet，listeningtothesnoringsastheyroseandfell；atlasttheybecamemoregentleandIfellasleep，notwithstandingmyfeetwereprojectingsomewayfromthebed。ImighthavelaintenminutesoraquarterofanhourwhenI