按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
for two men coming in from the rear of the house she conversed with
them in English。 These two individuals seated themselves on chairs
near the door； and called for beer。 The girl brought in the ale；
and I sat down by the fire； poured myself out a glass； and made
myself comfortable。 Presently a gig drove up to the door； and in
came a couple of dogs； one a tall black grey…hound； the other a
large female setter； the coat of the latter dripping with rain； and
shortly after two men from the gig entered； one who appeared to be
the principal was a stout bluff…looking person between fifty and
sixty； dressed in a grey stuff coat and with a slouched hat on his
head。 This man bustled much about； and in a broad Yorkshire
dialect ordered a fire to be lighted in another room； and a chamber
to be prepared for him and his companion； the landlady； who
appeared to know him； and to treat him with a kind of deference；
asked if she should prepare two beds； whereupon he answered 〃No！
As we came together and shall start together； so shall we sleep
together； it will not be for the first time。〃
His companion was a small mean…looking man； dressed in a black
coat； and behaved to him with no little respect。 Not only the
landlady； but the two men； of whom I have previously spoken；
appeared to know him and to treat him with deference。 He and his
companion presently went out to see after the horse。 After a
little time they returned； and the stout man called lustily for two
fourpennyworths of brandy and water … 〃Take it into the other
room！〃 said he； and went into a side room with his companion； but
almost immediately came out saying that the room smoked and was
cold； and that he preferred sitting in the kitchen。 He then took
his seat near me； and when the brandy was brought drank to my
health。 I said thank you； but nothing farther。 He then began
talking to the men and his companion upon indifferent subjects。
After a little time John Jones came in； called for a glass of ale；
and at my invitation seated himself between me and the stout
personage。 The latter addressed him roughly in English； but
receiving no answer said； 〃Ah； you no understand。 You have no
English and I no Welsh。〃
〃You have not mastered Welsh yet Mr … 〃 said one of the men to him。
〃No！〃 said he： 〃I have been doing business with the Welsh forty
years； but can't speak a word of their language。 I sometimes guess
at a word； spoken in the course of business； but am never sure。〃
Presently John Jones began talking to me； saying that he had been
to the river； that the water was very low； and that there was
little but stones in the bed of the stream。
I told him if its name was Ceiriog no wonder there were plenty of
stones in it； Ceiriog being derived from Cerrig； a rock。 The men
stared to hear me speak Welsh。
〃Is the gentleman a Welshman？〃 said one of the men； near the door；
to his companion； 〃he seems to speak Welsh very well。〃
〃How should I know？〃 said the other； who appeared to be a low
working man。
〃Who are those people？〃 said I to John Jones。
〃The smaller man is a workman at a flannel manufactory；〃 said
Jones。 〃The other I do not exactly know。〃
〃And who is the man on the other side of you？〃 said I。
〃I believe he is an English dealer in gigs and horses；〃 replied
Jones； 〃and that he is come here either to buy or sell。〃
The man； however； soon put me out of all doubt with respect to his
profession。
〃I was at Chirk；〃 said he； 〃and Mr So…and…so asked me to have a
look at his new gig and horse； and have a ride。 I consented。 They
were both brought out … everything new； gig new； harness new； and
horse new。 Mr So…and…so asked me what I thought of his turn…out。
I gave a look and said； 'I like the car very well； harness very
well； but I don't like the horse at all； a regular bolter； rearer
and kicker； or I'm no judge； moreover； he's pigeon…toed。' However；
we all got on the car … four of us； and I was of course
complimented with the ribbons。 Well； we hadn't gone fifty yards
before the horse； to make my words partly good； began to kick like
a new 'un。 However； I managed him； and he went on for a couple of
miles till we got to the top of the hill； just above the descent
with the precipice on the right hand。 Here he began to rear like a
very devil。
〃'Oh dear me！' says Mr So…and…so； 'let me get out！'
〃'Keep where you are；' says I； 'I can manage him。'
〃However； Mr So…and…so would not be ruled； and got out； coming
down； not on his legs； but his hands and knees。 And then the two
others said …
〃'Let us get out！'
〃'Keep where you are；' said I； 'I can manage him。'
〃But they must needs get out； or rather tumble out； for they both
came down on the road； hard on their backs。
〃'Get out yourself；' said they all； 'and let the devil go； or you
are a done man。'
〃'Getting out may do for you young hands；' says I； 'but it won't do
for I； neither my back nor bones will stand the hard road。'
〃Mr So…and…so ran to the horse's head。
〃'Are you mad？' says I； 'if you try to hold him he'll be over the
pree…si…pice in a twinkling； and then where am I？ Give him head； I
can manage him。'
〃So Mr So…and…so got out of the way； and down flew the horse right
down the descent； as fast as he could gallop。 I tell you what； I
didn't half like it！ A pree…si…pice on my right； the rock on my
left； and a devil before me； going； like a cannon…ball； right down
the hill。 However； I contrived； as I said I would； to manage him；
kept the car from the rock and from the edge of the gulf too。
Well； just when we had come to the bottom of the hill out comes the
people running from the inn； almost covering the road。
〃'Now get out of the way；' I shouts； 'if you don't wish to see your
brains knocked out； and what would be worse； mine too。'
〃So they gets out of the way； and on I spun； I and my devil。 But
by this time I had nearly taken the devil out of him。 Well； he
hadn't gone fifty yards on the level ground； when； what do you
think he did？ why； went regularly over； tumbled down regularly on
the road； even as I knew he would some time or other； because why？
he was pigeon…toed。 Well； I gets out of the gig； and no sooner did
Mr So…and…so come up than I says …
〃'I likes your car very well； and I likes your harness； but … me if
I likes your horse； and it will be some time before you persuade me
to drive him again。'〃
I am a great lover of horses； and an admirer of good driving； and
should have wished to have some conversation with this worthy
person about horses and their management。 I should also have
wished to ask him some questions about Wales and the Welsh； as he
must have picked up a great deal of curious information about both
in his forty years' traffic； notwithstanding he did not know a word
of Welsh； but John Jones prevented my further tarrying by saying；
that it would be as well to get over the mountain before it was
entirely dark。 So I got up； paid for my ale； vainly endeavoured to
pay for that of my companion； who insisted upon paying for what he
had ordered； made a gene