“I do not live in these parts,” said I.
“No, sir; but you are coming to live here.”
“How do you know that?” said I.
“I know it very well, sir; you left these parts very young, and went far away—to the East Indies, sir, where you made a large fortune in the medical line, sir; you are now coming back to your own valley, where you will buy a property, and settle down, and try to recover your language, sir, and your health, sir; for you are not the person you pretend to be, sir; I know you very well, and shall be happy to work for you.”
“Well,” said I, “if I ever settle down here, I shall be happy to employ you. Farewell.”
I went back the way I had come, till I reached the little hamlet. Seeing a small public-house, I entered it—a good-looking woman, who met me in the passage, ushered me into a neat sanded kitchen, handed me a chair and inquired my commands; I sat down, and told her to bring me some ale; she brought it, and then seated herself by a bench close by the door.
“Rather a quiet place this,” said I. “I have seen but two faces since I came over the hill, and yours is one.”
“Rather too quiet, sir,” said the good woman; “one would wish to have more visitors.”
“I suppose,” said I, “people from Llangollen occasionally come to visit you.”
“Sometimes, sir, for curiosity’s sake; but very rarely—the way is very steep.”