Presently Gwen, who had been preparing coffee in expectation of my return, poured out a cupful, which she presented to me, at the same time handing me some white sugar in a basin.
I took the coffee, helped myself to some sugar, and returned her thanks in her own language.
“Ah,” said the man, in Welsh, “I see you are a Cumro. Gwen and I have been wondering whether you were Welsh or English; but I see you are one of ourselves.”
“No,” said I in the same language, “I am an Englishman, born in a part of England the farthest of any from Wales. In fact, I am a Carn Sais.”
“And how came you to speak Welsh?” said the man.
“I took it into my head to learn it when I was a boy,” said I. “Englishmen sometimes do strange things.”
“So I have heard,” said the man, “but I never heard before of an Englishman learning Welsh.”
I proceeded to drink my coffee, and having finished it, and had a little more discourse, I got up, and having given Gwen a piece of silver, which she received with a smile and a curtsey, I said I must now be going.
“Won’t you take another cup?” said Gwen, “you are welcome.”
“No, thank you,” said I; “I have had enough.”