“Are you sure that you understand Welsh?” said I.
“I should think so,” said the woman, “for I come from the Vale of Clwyd, where they speak the best Welsh in the world, the Welsh of the Bible.”
“What do they call a salmon in the Vale of Clwyd?” said I.
“What do they call a salmon?” said the woman. “Yes,” said I, “when they speak Welsh.”
“They call it—they call it—why a salmon.”
“Pretty Welsh!” said I. “I thought you did not understand Welsh.”
“Well, what do you call it?” said the woman.
“Eawg,” said I, “that is the word for a salmon in general—but there are words also to show the sex—when you speak of a male salmon you should say cemyw, when of a female hwyfell.”
“I never heard the words before,” said the woman, “nor do I believe them to be Welsh.”
“You say so,” said I, “because you do not understand Welsh.”