“About three mile: are you going there?”
“Yes, I am going to Tregaron.”
“Pity that you did not come a little time ago,” said the woman; “you might then have had pleasant company on your way; pleasant man stopped here to light his pipe; he too going to Tregaron.”
“It doesn’t matter,” said I; “I am never happier than when keeping my own company.” Bidding the woman good night, I went on. The moon now shone tolerably bright, so that I could see my way, and I sped on at a great rate. I had proceeded nearly half-a-mile, when I thought I heard steps in advance, and presently saw a figure at some little distance before me. The individual, probably hearing the noise of my approach, soon turned round and stood still. As I drew near I distinguished a stout burly figure of a man, seemingly about sixty, with a short pipe in his mouth.
“Ah, is it you?” said the figure, in English, taking the pipe out of his mouth; “good evening, I am glad to see you.” Then shaking some burning embers out of his pipe, he put it into his pocket, and trudged on beside me.
“Why are you glad to see me?” said I, slackening my pace; “I am a stranger to you; at any rate, you are to me.”
“Always glad to see English gentleman,” said the figure; “always glad to see him.”
“How do you know that I am an English gentleman?” said I.
“O, I know Englishman at first sight; no one like him in the whole world.”
“Have you seen many English gentlemen?” said I.