“Ha!” said the old man, “I see you understand Welsh.”
“A little. Are there eagles there now?”
“Oh, no! no eagle now; eagle left Tap-Nyth.”
“Is that young man your son?” said Mr. Borrow, after a little pause.
“Yes, he my son.”
“Has he any English?”
“No, he no English, but he plenty of Welsh; that is, if he see reason.” He spoke to the young man, in Welsh, asking him if he had ever been up to the Tap-Nyth; but he made no answer.
“He no care for your question,” said the old man; “ask him price of pig.”
“I asked the young fellow the price of hogs,” says Mr. Borrow, “whereupon his face brightened up, and he not only answered my question, but told me that he had a fat hog to sell.”
“Ha, ha!” said the old man, “he plenty of Welsh now, for he see reason; to other question he no Welsh at all, no more than English, for he see no reason. What business he on Tap-Nyth, with eagle? His business down below in sty with pig. Ah! he look lump, but he no fool. Know more about pig than you, or I, or anyone, ’twixt here and Machunleth.”