“Who is this young lady?” said I.
“The daughter of a captain of a neighbouring mine,” said he; “she frequently comes here with messages, and is always ready to do a turn about the house, for she is very handy.”
“Has she any English?” said I.
“Not a word,” he replied. “The young people of these hills have no English, except they go abroad to learn it.”
“What hills are these?” said I.
“Part of the Plynlimmon range,” said he.
“Dear me,” said I, “am I near Plynlimmon?”
“Not very far from it,” said the young man, “and you will be nearer when you reach Pont Erwyd.”
“Are you a native of these parts?” said I.
“I am not,” he replied; “I am a native of Aberystwyth, a place on the sea-coast about a dozen miles from here.”